Liverpool transfer news: Balotelli finally leaves for free

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp wants former Man City keeper

17 May

Despite their impending Europa League final clash against Sevilla, Liverpool are still finding time to plan for next season and Talksport reports that the Reds "are ready to splash £8m" on Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius.

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The 22-year-old gloveman, who spent a couple of seasons in the Manchester City academy in his youth, is hot property at the moment with several clubs on his tail after a sensational season between the sticks. But German rag Bild reports that Liverpool are "about to win the race by activating Karius' £8m release-clause".

Jurgen Klopp has sent his scouts to watch Karius in action on several occasions and now the Liverpool gaffer is poised to pounce as he looks for a decent keeper to provide competition to current number one Simon Mignolet.

Meanwhile the Daily Express reports that Liverpool, Sunderland and West Ham are all keeping Swansea frontman Andre Ayew in their sights after the "cast doubt over his future at the club".

The Ghana goal machine joined the Swans last summer on a free from Marseille and netted 12 times in his debut season. According to the Express the 26-year-old "has made no secret of his desire to join Liverpool", and when he was asked about his future at the Liberty Stadium, he gave what can be described as a non-committal response. "If I have to stay, fine. If I have to leave, I have to leave. We'll see what's going to happen, we'll have a discussion and see the way forward."

Liverpool transfer news: Dembele deal paves way for Mario Gotze

13 May

Intrigue oozes from the pages of The Sun with the paper reporting that Borussia Dortmund have beaten Liverpool to the hand of the highly-rated Ousmane Dembele — but before the Kop cry into their replica shirts, the paper claims "that could still spell good news for Jurgen Klopp".

Why? Because according to the Sun the German club has also been "battling" Liverpool for the signature of Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Gotze, widely expected to leave the German champions in the summer.

The fact that Dortmund have shelled out for the 18-year-old Dembele - paying French club Rennes a reported £12m - could mean that that they have accepted that Germany’s World Cup hero "is set to join his former boss at Anfield".

But things are not that simple according to the Daily Express, which claims Arsenal are also in pursuit of Gotze. Quoting German outlet Suddeutsche Zeitung, the paper says that the Gunners are "weighing up a bid for the Germany international" and believe that £20m will be enough to bring him to the Emirates.

And back at the Sun there is another twist, with Chelsea said to be on the brink of landing Gotze with the paper claiming that incoming Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti has told the Blues "they can have Mario Gotze for £35m".

Liverpool transfer news: Mario Gotze to quit Bayern Munich

12 May

The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti to replace Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich could have positive repercussions for Liverpool, says the Daily Mirror.

According to the paper the Reds' hopes of landing Mario Gotze have been "handed a major boost" because the Italian does not rate the 23-year-old World Cup winner very highly.

The claim comes from German rag Sueddeutsche Zeitung. It says that that the pair talked on the phone last week and Ancelotti told the Germany international "that it may be best for him to leave Bayern this summer".

It's no secret that Gotze has grown frustrated at the Allianz Arena this season and he wanted to pump Ancelotti for a clearer idea of where he stood in his plans. Now that he knows, Gotze is tipped to jump ship this summer and seek a fresh challenge.

That will be music to the ears of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who, in the view of the Mirror, is "eager for a reunion with his former protege". Klopp coached Gotze at Dortmund a few seasons ago and £20m could be enough to see them working together at Anfield next season.

However, it remains to be seen if he can persuade the playmaker to join Liverpool over his former club Borussia Dortmund, who are also keen for a reunion.

Liverpool transfer news: Joe Allen to join Anfield clearout?

10 May

The next couple of weeks could determine the future of Joe Allen, claims the Liverpool Echo, as the Wales international weighs up his options ahead of the summer.

The midfielder, who has just one year remaining on his current deal, has been linked with a move back to Swansea but he was acting the innocent when asked by the Echo about his plans. "The manager has said that between now and the end of the season it's not the right time to talk about those things," explained Allen. "I think that works out well for everyone."

Allen featured in Sunday's win over Watford and he's hoping that another good display against Chelsea tomorrow evening will earn him a place in Liverpool's starting XI for next week's Europa League clash against Sevilla. And the Echo says that only then will Jurgen Klopp decide whether to offer Allen a new deal.

But in the meantime Klopp is already streamlining his squad with two players said to be on their way out of Anfield. Talksport reports that Spanish defender Jose Enrique has been released by Liverpool ahead of schedule so that the veteran can begin to hunt for a new club. The 30-year-old has spent the past five seasons at Liverpool, making a century of appearances for the Reds, and it was always the club's intention to let him go when his contract expires at the end of the month.

And it's not just the elderly at risk from Jurgen Klopp's clearout with the Daily Mail saying that Rangers are closing in on teenage midfielder Jordan Rossiter in what the paper describes as "a transfer coup for the Ibrox club".

The England Under-19 international captain has been on Liverpool's books since he was six, but it's proved impossible for the two parties to agree on terms for a new contract, and as a result says the Mail, Rangers "can sign him for compensation of around £250,000 as it is a cross-border transfer".

Liverpool transfer news: Piotr Zielinski heads to Anfield

06 May

There is more good news for Liverpool as they celebrate reaching the Europa League final, and it comes from Metro, which reports that Udinese midfielder Piotr Zielinski is on course to become a Red.

Rumours have been circulating for a while on Merseyside to the effect that the 21-year-old has been the target of a £11.9m offer from manger Jurgen Klopp, and Metro says the young Polish playmaker is expected to agree terms in the coming weeks.

"Klopp is one of the best managers around and it would certainly be an honour to work with him," gushed Zielinski, who is currently on loan with Empoli. Though he wouldn't divulge if he had agreed terms with Liverpool, Zielinski refused to deny speculation linking him with Anfield, saying only: "It’s my agent who deals with these topics."

The Guardian is getting its hands dirty as the transfer season approaches with a claim that West Ham have "offered €40m (£31m) to Marseille for Michy Batshuayi".

The Belgian striker is regarded as one of France's top marksman but as the Guardian notes Liverpool have had a "prolonged interest" in the 23-year-old and asked Marseille earlier in the season to keep them abreast of any interest from other clubs. It's not known if Liverpool will make an offer of their own but the Guardian says they may not "be willing to pay such a big fee."