Liverpool transfer news: Balotelli finally leaves for free

Liverpool transfer news: Joel Matip signs up, Havard Nordtveit next

16 February

It's only February and there is still frost on the ground, but Liverpool have agreed their first summer signing with Joel Matip heading to Anfield once the season is over after signing a pre-contract agreement.

The 24-year-old centre-back is currently with Schalke but with his contract expiring in May, he's decided the time is right for a new challenge. Talksport says that the Cameroon international "will reportedly pen a four-year deal at Anfield" having turned down interest from two unnamed French clubs. In a statement on their official website on Monday afternoon, Schalke chief executive Horst Heldt said: "His decision is nothing against Schalke. He wants to try something new."

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Meanwhile, The Sun says that Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp has also set his heart on acquiring Havard Nordtveit. The 25-year-old midfielder was once on the books at Arsenal but the Gunners released him in 2011 and the Norway international has since made a name for himself with Borussia Monchengladbach. Like Matip, Nordtveit is a free agent at the end of the season and he's almost certainly set to move to Anfield.

And might Dennis Praet also end up on Merseyside? Caughtoffside.com says that it has it on good authority that the attacking midfielder from Anderlecht has been scouted by Liverpool and the Belgium Under-21 star is poised to sign for Liverpool. Praet's agent, the colourfully-named Jacques Lichtenstein, has confirmed rumours that his client wants out and caughtoffside say Liverpool are "readying a £22.5m bid for the 21-year-old".

Liverpool transfer news: Reds battle Man Utd for Lucas Moura

15 February

After hitting Aston Villa for six on Sunday might Liverpool now have the swagger to see off Manchester United and sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura?

The Daily Mirror says that the Reds will go "head to head" with United for the hand of the 23-year-old, who is reportedly unsettled at the club he joined in 2013. The Mirror says that Moura was "close" to signing for United three years ago before choosing the French capital as his destination, but he's now being courted by both clubs.

Meanwhile the Mirror also passes on some news carried by Spanish rag Mundo Deportivo, namely that the Reds "have been dealt a blow" in their pursuit of Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Rumours have been rife in recent weeks that Jurgen Klopp was zeroing in on the gloveman having grown exasperated with the dodgy displays of Simon Mignolet. But the Spanish media now reports that the German keeper "is not thinking about a move to Merseyside", and intends to stick it out at the Camp Nou in the hope he'll leapfrog Claudio Bravo to become Barcelona's regular shotstopper next season.

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp lines up summer target Perez

12 February

Jurgen Klopp has apparently "unveiled his summer spending plans", but it seems they amount to little more than not getting fleeced, according to the Daily Express.

The paper says Klopp is drawing up a list of targets, including former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, but "won't pay over the odds for anyone when the window reopens in July".

The rumour mill is turning over a little more productively than that in Italy, where Corriere Dello Sport claims Liverpool are keen on Deportivo La Coruna winger Lucas Perez. The Liverpool Echo flags up the Reds' interest and says the 27-year-old attacking midfielder has scored an impressive 16 goals in 26 matches this term, which has prompted Liverpool to move for him.

But it appears unsure of the rumour's provenance: "English club, German coach, Spanish player, Italian reports. You do the maths."

But could Klopp be set for a ding-dong battle with an old foe in the summer? Talksport reports Manchester City are "ready to challenge Liverpool" for the hand of Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes.

The 21-year-old, who's been impressing on loan at Serie A side Empoli this season, has been scouted by Klopp with a view to a summer purchase. But now comes news Pep Guardiola, his old sparring partner from his days managing Borussia Dortmund, also likes the look of Paredes.

Guardiola leaves the Bayern Munich hotseat to join Manchester City at the end of the season and Talksport claims Roma are "bracing themselves for interest" from the club as they look to rebuild their squad. It's said Parades, who only joined Roma from Boca Juniors in 2014, is high on Guardiola's shopping list (although to be honest, who isn't, if recent rumours are to be believed?) and that Roma will sell the Argentine to the highest bidder.

Liverpool transfer news: £10m to land defender Jonas Hector

09 February

Jurgen Klopp has been told to find £10m if he wants to sign German defender Jonas Hector this summer. The Daily Star reports that the Reds boss has identified the 25-year-old international as the sort of steely blocker required at Anfield, but Cologne have put a hefty price tag on the player's head.

Apparently, Klopp knows the defender well from his days coaching Dortmund and the Star says he "sent a scout to run the rule over Hector in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg". The favourable reports have convinced him to meet Cologne's asking price, it adds.

Meanwhile, Metro says Liverpool "are ready to sign" Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the summer transfer window after Klopp has finally concluded what the Kop has known for months - current number one Simon Mignolet just can't be trusted between the sticks.

The bungling Belgian gloveman signed a new contract last month, but another poor display at the weekend, this time against Sunderland, has proved too much for the Liverpool boss and Metro says he will move for Ter Stegen in June. It seems Barca will listen to offers, with coach Luis Enrique allegedly "unhappy with the attitude" of the former Borussia Monchengladbach keeper.

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp 'considers selling' Sturridge

08 February

Speculation continues to grow over the future of Daniel Sturridge, although the press seem united in predicting the Liverpool striker will leave Anfield at the end of the season. The Daily Mirror believes the former Chelsea frontman is eyeing a move to the capital and only a London club will suffice. Arsenal were linked with Sturridge last week, but the Mirror says West Ham United could be a better bet, with the Reds unwilling to sell to a club traditionally viewed as one of their fiercest rivals.

But according to the Daily Star, Sturridge will be heading north, with Newcastle United "planning a sensational summer swoop" for the unsettled sharpshooter.

It's reported that Liverpool - who bought Sturridge for £12million from Chelsea in 2013 - are reluctant to sell but acknowledge he's not happy on Merseyside. As a result, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will "consider selling" the injury prone Sturridge for around £30m.

Liverpool transfer news: Teixeira to China, Sturridge out

05 February

Liverpool have missed out on January target Alex Teixeira after he agreed a ground-breaking £38m move to Jiangsu Suning of the Chinese Super League.

The Shakhtar Donetsk frontman was the target of a £24m offer from the Reds last month but they were knocked back by the Ukraine club, who appeared adamant they weren't going to sell Teixeira. But it has now been confirmed that the sharpshooter will join compatriot Ramires, who moved from Chelsea last week, at the Chinese club.

"We have agreed the sale of Alex Teixeira to China," Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu is quoted as saying: "It's all sorted on our side."

According to ESPN Teixeira's fee is a new Asian transfer record, surpassing the £31.7m Guangzhou Evergrande paid for Atletico Madrid's Jackson Martinez at the start of the week and confirming the Chinese Super League as a burgeoning force in the world game, able to attract some of the most wanted players on the planet.

Meanwhile the Daily Mirror reports that Daniel Sturridge "is ready to quit" Anfield in the summer. Plagued by injuries in recent seasons, the England frontman "believes it could be time for a fresh start" and Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal are all name-checked by the Mirror as possible suitors for the 26-year-old.

Liverpool transfer news: Markovic back, Teixeira to China?

04 February

The future of Lazar Markovic is shrouded in mystery after the Turkish media reported that the winger, currently on loan from Liverpool at Fenerbahce, is probably out of the club's price range.

The 21-year-old, who joined Liverpool in a £17.5m deal from Benfica in 2014, failed to settle at Anfield but has found life in Turkey much more to his liking since arriving last summer.

According to Turkish rag Sabah, and website Turkish Football, a Fenerbahce representative has "stated that they would be unable to sign Markovic even if [we] offered €25m".

It appears that the Reds have cottoned on to the fact that Markovic is beginning to fulfil his potential and "have scouts present at every Fenerbahce game". So while Brendan Rodgers failed to get the best out of Markovic, Jurgen Klopp is said to be confident he will return to Anfield ready to shine for the Reds.

Meanwhile, could the Reds pay the price for failing to land Brazilian Alex Teixeira during the transfer window? The Daily Mirror reports that Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning are preparing a £37m raid for the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, who has made it clear he wants to leave the Ukrainian club.

The Chinese transfer window does not shut until later this month, meaning that he could move on before Liverpool get a second bite of the cherry.

Liverpool transfer news: Sane blow, Teixeira bidding war

3 February

After being given the run-around by Leicester on Tuesday evening in the Premier League, Liverpool have now been "rocked" by the news that Leroy Sane has no intention of leaving Schalke in the summer.

The Daily Express explains that Liverpool and also Manchester City were both preparing to launch a £40m bid for the midfielder at the end of the season, confident that the German outfit would go weak-kneed at the sight of so much wonga. But club chairman Clemens Tonnies told German newspaper Rheinische Post that he was confident the 20-year-old will be part of the furniture for a long time to come.

"I do not see Leroy Sane leaving Schalke any time soon," Tonnies said. "Everybody who wants the best for him has been telling him that he should stay at Schalke for at least one more season. You can still see him developing game after game."

It is believed that City have dropped out of the running for Sane after the announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over the helm next season, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is still hopeful of landing a player he's admired since his days in charge at Borussia Dortmund.

Meanwhile Metro claims that Liverpool will redouble their efforts to sign Alex Teixeira in the summer. Having failed in their bid to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward in January, the Reds have not given up hope but Metro says the Ukraine outfit hope a "bidding war could take place with Chelsea, Roma and Inter Milan" all rumoured to be willing to activate Teixeira's £53.3m buy-out clause.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds battle Arsenal for Aubameyang

02 February

The Reds were beaten to the hand of Coventry's "teenage sensation" James Maddison on Deadline Day by none other than Norwich City, in a deal that could appear to confirm Liverpool's status as a fallen giant.

The Daily Mirror says that Liverpool were confident they would crush the Canaries in the bid to sign the 19-year-old midfielder but Norwich were "able to push through a £3.5m deal before the 11pm deadline".

The failure is a blow to manager Jurgen Klopp, who had identified Maddison as a playmaker of great potential. The Mirror says that he has signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Carrow Road but will return to Coventry on loan for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, if the Daily Express is to be believed, the Reds are already drawing up their summer shopping list and top of it is Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The paper says the sharpshooter "attracted serious interest" from the Reds and Arsenal this month and Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke had this message for the pair ahead of the summer window: "If an offer comes, then we need to discuss it. If it should go into the hundreds of millions, then we also need to talk to the player."