Liverpool transfer news: Balotelli finally leaves for free

Liverpool transfer news: Reds lead West Ham in Theo Walcott hunt

14 June

Liverpool have nosed in front of West Ham United in the race to sign Theo Walcott. It's widely agreed that it's a matter of when and not if the Arsenal winger leaves the Emirates and the Evening Standard claims that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is putting together a big-money offer to prise Walcott from the club.

With Arsenal linked to a number of high-profile frontmen recently - including Jamie Vardy - they are expected to sell if a serious offer is tabled, and according to the Standard Liverpool "are reportedly willing to part with £25m" in order to reel in their prey.

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The Hammers seem to have accepted they won't win Walcott and have instead turned their attention to Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.

Elsewhere, Juventus appear to have got the better of Liverpool in the pursuit of Roma star Miralem Pjanic. The Turin outfit posted on social media a snap of the Bosnian arriving at their training base on Monday for his medical prior to joining the club. Talksport reproduces the photo and says that it proves that the Reds "have missed out to Juventus" in their pursuit of the 26-year-old.

Liverpool and Chelsea had been monitoring the playmaker after his impressive displays for Roma last season and Talksport says both clubs had been "putting together proposals to lure the midfielder to England". But Juventus have sealed the deal with the BBC reporting that the Italian champs have shelved out "£25.4m on a five-year contract".

Liverpool transfer news: Gabriel Mercado tipped to replace Martin Skrtel

13 June

The latest defender to be linked with Liverpool is River Plate blocker Gabriel Mercado, claims The Sun. The paper says that the 29-year-old Argentine hard man is on Liverpool's "wanted list" as Jurgen Klopp continues to rebuild his defence.

It's the area that the German believes needs the most work ahead of next season, and he's willing to take a punt on Mercado even though he's never played outside Argentina at club level. The player's versatility impresses Klopp as he can not only play at right-back but also fit into a more central defensive role and even move up into the the right side of midfield if required.

The Sun says that Klopp was in the crowd last week to watch Mercado in action for Argentina against Chile in the Copa America. The news will add fuel to the rumours that Martin Skrtel, who was in the Slovakian side that lost to Wales on Saturday, could be heading towards the Anfield exit next month.

Also seemingly set for pastures new is midfielder Joao Teixeira with the Daily Express claiming he is "on the verge of joining FC Porto". The 23-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the month, has been offered a new deal by the Reds but there's been no response on Teixeira's part and Portuguese rag A Bola is reporting that "he will move to Porto on a four or five-year deal".

Liverpool transfer news: Reds reject £23m bid for Phillipe Coutinho

09 June

Paris Saint-Germain are up and running in their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho but Liverpool have rejected an initial bid of £23m from the French champions. Metro says that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is "keen" to keep his squad intact over the summer and that he is particularly anxious to keep hold of the 23-year-old Brazilian.

Since joining from Inter Milan in 2013, the South American playmaker has matured into one of Liverpool's most influential performers and that's what has aroused the interest of PSG and also Barcelona. Although the Spanish giants are thought to be unlikely to offer more than £23m, PSG are expected to make a second bid after accepting they won't be able to prise Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

Talking of Barcelona, Talksport claim that former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen could be on his way out of the Camp Nou this summer - and Liverpool and West Ham are the front-runners to bring the Belgian defender back to England.

Since abandoning Arsenal two years ago, Vermaelen's career has been in freefall due to a combination of injuries and loss of form, and Spanish paper Sport says Barca coach Luiz Enrique is ready to jettison the 32-year-old, who will be hoping to get the chance to impress suitors at Euro 2016.

It's no secret Jurgen Klopp wants to strengthen his defence for next season and he must decide whether Vermaelen still has a couple of seasons to offer or whether he left his best years at the Emirates.

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Liverpool transfer news: 'Sensational move' for Gonzalo Higuain

8 June

Are the Reds on the brink of securing what The Sun describes as a "sensational deal" for Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain?

The Napoli marksman has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea in recent months but according to the Sun Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is about to table a big-money bid for Higuain. With neither Christian Benteke nor Daniel Sturridge impressing the German gaffer, the move for the South American sharpshooter makes sense and beIN Sports claim that a deal is currently being thrashed out.

Additionally, says the Sun, Liverpool are "also set to sign Porto's Hector Herrera", a Mexican midfielder who combines pace with power and is "on the verge" of a move to Merseyside.

The chase for Nicolas N'Koulou is going down to the wire with Talksport reporting that German club Schalke are "lining up a last-ditch attempt" to sign the Cameroonian defender who Liverpool and Tottenham are both pursuing. The 26-year-old has been scouted by the two Premier League clubs and now that N'Koulou's Marseille contract has ended he's free to go where he pleases. Lazio and Sevilla have a long-standing interest in the burly blocker but Talksport says that while Liverpool lead the chase, Schalke are prepared to table an eye-watering big bid in the hope of convincing N'Koulou that his future lies in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds join the hunt for Joao Mario

03 June

There will be a small army of Premier league scouts watching the action at Euro 2016 and at least three of them are likely to be keeping a close eye on Portugal. Why? Because according to The Sun Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the pursuit of Joao Mario.

The Sporting Lisbon midfielder "is a summer target for Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte" after helping the Portuguese outfit finish second in their league behind Benfica. The 23-year-old Mario has been slapped with a £23m price tag and reports earlier in the week suggested Chelsea were leading the chase having sent their representatives to meet with the midfielder's agent, Kia Joorabchian in Lisbon. Nothing concrete came of that chit-chat, however, and now Portuguese newspaper A Bola claims that Jurgen Klopp is now chasing Mario after missing out in his bid to sign Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze.

Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up a move for Philippe Coutinho, says the Daily Star and the paper says it could enrich the Reds to the tune of £46m. The French media reports that coach Laurent Blanc has earmarked the Brazilian frontman as his 'Plan B' if he fails to land either Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar. But the Star says if PSG do make a play for Coutinho they'll have to jettison one of their other South Americans, Lucas Moura or Maxwell, because of regulations regarding non-EU players.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds close to Samuel Bastien deal

02 June

Anderlecht teenager Samuel Bastien is enjoying himself in Marbella but his next stop could be Merseyside. The Daily Mail says that the 19-year-old Belgian is wanted by Liverpool and the reds are "in discussions over a £4m move" for the midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp has been tracking Bastien's progress on loan at Serie B outfit Avellino and the Liverpool gaffer is now ready to make a move. The Mail says the young playmaker is unwinding on holiday in Spain "but his agent Franklin Mala Makani is looking to tie up negotiations" with the Premier League club.

Meanwhile Caughtoffside reports that Inter have beaten Liverpool to the hand of Fenerbahce left-back Caner Erkin. It believes Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be "disappointed" at his failure to sign the Turkish international, who will be showcasing his talents at the forthcoming European Championships. The Reds were linked to Erkin last month but Italian media have confirmed that he's signed a three-year deal with Inter and will join them on a free transfer after the Euros.

Another player who won't be wearing the Liverpool shirt next season is striker Samed Yesil, who is about to leave Anfield after a four-year year stint at the club during which he failed to make a Premier League appearance. The Express quotes the 22-year-old German frontman telling Turkish publication Super Haber: "I have received offers from Trabzonspor for the past four years. I would like to join the club for the 50th year anniversary"