Liverpool transfer news – Sofyan Amrabat offer, Ryan Gravenberch wanted, Anfield construction latest
Liverpool transfer news, rumours, gossip and speculation including the latest on Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch, as well as an appeal over Alexis Mac Allister’s red card and the latest on the Anfield Road end construction
Hello and welcome to our latest Liverpool FC transfer liveblog. There are 11 days remaining in the summer transfer window and, after three new signings, the Reds are not done.
Midfielders continue to be linked with a move to the club, including Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, among others, while Liverpool could look to complete a deal for a left-sided defender.
We’ll have the latest transfer news, plus any updates on the potential appeal of Alexis Mac Allister’s controversial red card, after he was sent off during his home debut against Bournemouth on Saturday.
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I want Paul Tierney taken off Premier League duty this weekend after Liverpool error
I am hopeful Saturday’s three points earned at the expense of Bournemouth will be the first of many this season.
There were worrying parts of our performance, the first 10 minutes in particular, but we got the win. There was a decent reaction from the team and we dug deep to come out on top over 90 minutes.
The main thing for me is that we’re scoring goals. Although we only got one at Chelsea, we are creating chances and we will continue to get better. When Klopp gets the midfielder he wants, you will see Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister pushed further up the pitch.
The balance in attack can get better when there are three players up there instead of our current approach of three with Cody Gakpo dropped back. I thought Gakpo played pretty well on Saturday, to his credit, but he is not fully used to that midfield role and sometimes doesn’t know where to go.
The holding midfielder area, we’ve had problems in the last couple of games and the club are looking for that type of player.
Alexis Mac Allister red card latest
Liverpool could struggle to convince the Football Association to overturn Alexis Mac Allister’s red card from Saturday’s game with Bournemouth, according to VAR expert Dale Johnson.
Mac Allister was dismissed less than an hour into his Anfield debut after a coming together with Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie resulted in the Argentine being given his marching orders by referee Thomas Bramall.
At the time, neither VAR referees Paul Tierney nor assistant Constantine Hatzidakis instructed Bramall to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor at Anfield. Thus leaving Mac Allister facing the prospect of missing out on the Reds’ next three Premier League matches.
On Monday, though, the ECHO revealed Liverpool have lodged an appeal with the FA under ‘wrongful dismissal’ in the hope of having Mac Allister’s red card retracted in time for Sunday’s clash at Newcastle United.
And even though the FA will now review evidence of the tackle through an independent regulatory commission, Johnson believes it could be a tough ask for Liverpool to convince the chiefs of English football to overturn Mac Allister’s dismissal.
Writing in his weekly ESPN column, Johnson said: “Klopp will appeal to the Football Association and hope to avoid the three-game ban that would see Mac Allister miss matches against Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“There’s a chance it could be successful, but it’s by no means certain. As Mac Allister went into the challenge with a studs-first blocking motion, rather than an attempt to kick the ball, the independent panel which sits to judge appeals may feel that, in law, the red card wasn’t an incorrect decision.”
Alexis MacAllister was sent off on his first home start for Liverpool
Manchester City set to sign Jeremy Doku
According to Fabrizio Romano, there is a verbal agreement in place for Jeremy Doku to join Manchester City after a new bid of €60m was submitted this morning.
Romano claims the Belgium international will travel to England for a medical later this week and sign a long-term contract with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Borussia Monchengladbach issue Manu Kone transfer warning
Borussia Monchengladbach manager Roland Virkus insists it would take an “immense offer” for the club to consider selling Manu Kone this summer.
The 22-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield in recent months, with the ECHO understanding he was under consideration by the Reds’ transfer chiefs earlier in the window.
However, after suffering a serious knee injury at the under-21s European Championships back in June, Kone has yet to resume full training and has seen talk of a big-money switch from Borussia Park fail to materialise. In fact, since being touted with a move for Kone, Liverpool have signed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo.
Meanwhile back in Germany, speaking to Bild, Virkus insisted the Bundesliga outfit are under no pressure to sell one of their most-prized assets before the September 1 deadline as they look to build on last season’s 10th-place finish.
“We don’t have to sell him,” said Virkus. “But it was always like this: if there is another immense offer, then we have to think about it. But that’s not the plan. Our plan is to keep Kone.
“Kone is a player who has something different, he gives you as a team a better balance in midfield. He’s coming back after the international break and he’s very important to us, a tough and intelligent footballer. We need stability in this position.”
Anfield Road latest as Liverpool plan swift response to avoid losing millions
Completion of the Anfield Road End redevelopment remains shrouded in uncertainty days after the build’s contractor, Buckingham Group, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
At the start of the summer Liverpool had been working towards the initial plan to open the redeveloped stand, which has come at a cost of around £80m, in time for the new Premier League season, where the first home game was Bournemouth last weekend.
But financial issues suffered by Buckingham Group, who were also working on both the Northampton Town and Birmingham City football stadiums, have seen them forced to cease trading as of last week, although the firm has not yet entered administration.
A statement from the firm last week read: “It is with immeasurable regret that the Buckingham board has to announce that rapidly escalating contract losses and a sharp reduction in liquidity, together mean the company is unable to continue trading at this current time.
“We emphasise the company is currently not in administration. Our main aim at present is to seek to protect jobs, and to preserve as much of the business as possible.”
Liverpool’s phased opening of the new Anfield Road end is reportedly set for an uncertain few weeks due to the ongoing issues with contractors from the Buckingham Group.
Last week, it was revealed that the construction group had filed an intention to appoint administrators and, according to This is Anfield, no work was carried out at the site on Monday.
The report adds that on Monday morning “only a handful of security staff currently present on site and no progress on the build being made”.
Earlier this month, Liverpool announced that the new stand would be gradually opening, with October’s Merseyside derby the target for the first full house of the new season.
Buckingham Group Contracting branding is seen outside the unfinished Anfield Road stand following the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth
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As reported by the ECHO earlier, Liverpool are set to appeal Alexis Mac Allister’s red card he received against Bournemouth.
Can you see the Argentine’s dismissal being overturned, Reds?
Manchester United make Mason Greenwood decision
Manchester United have confirmed Mason Greenwood will leave the club after the conclusion of an international investigation into the forward’s behaviour.
