Here are your Liverpool evening headlines for Tuesday, January 31.
Liverpool have perfect chance to sign next Kaoru Mitoma
Liverpool will be glad they don’t have to face Kaoru Mitoma again this season. The Japanese international has been a constant threat during the Reds’ three meetings with Brighton.
Mitoma scored the goal which ended Liverpool’s defence of the FA Cup last weekend, and has continually tormented their players with his nifty footwork. Per OptaJoe, he has completed 10 dribbles against the Reds this season, the most of any opponent.
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His impressive form this season means it will take a large transfer fee to prise him from Brighton, just as it will for the likes of Moises Caicedo. Liverpool supporters often say their club should sign players of this standard before they reach the Premier League, and a new transfer link suggests the Reds may be looking to do just that.
Mike McGrath of The Daily Telegraph has tweeted regarding the future of LASK forward Keito Nakamura, noting he is set to remain in Austria at present. However, McGrath also stated: “Liverpool & Brighton have sent scouts to watch him his season (8 goals+3 assists/15 apps) & will monitor him.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Marcel Sabitzer move should spark Liverpool response
It’s not just on the pitch where Liverpool have been the scourge of Manchester United in recent years, with the Reds repeatedly getting the better of the Red Devils in the transfer market too.
While United haven’t won a trophy since 2017, their supporters have had to watch on enviously as Jurgen Klopp has led their bitter rivals to every major honour going, including Premier League and Champions League glory.
Along the way, United have looked to bridge the gap with Liverpool when strengthening their squad. However, a number of players who have looked destined to join the Red Devils over the years ultimately ended up at Anfield.
Roberto Firmino reportedly had a medical booked with United, only for the Reds to swoop in and steal his signature in the summer of 2015. Meanwhile, Sadio Mane was close to agreeing a switch to Old Trafford 12 months later, before a phone call from Klopp persuaded him to join Liverpool instead.
Fabinho had been heavily linked with Manchester United over a number of months, before the Reds signed the Brazilian out of the blue in May 2018, with it ultimately a similar story when Liverpool signed both Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo last summer and earlier this month.
Meanwhile, United would reportedly fail in efforts to steal Virgil van Dijk from under the Reds’ noses in January 2018. And while they did not enter the conversation to sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich in September 2020, the Spaniard had repeatedly been linked with the Red Devils for years prior to his eventual move to the Premier League.
And while Liverpool aren't set to strengthen their squad any further on transfer deadline day, with their midfield in major need of a revamp, they would be wise to steal a transfer from under their rival’s noses once again.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
READ NEXT:
- Why Chelsea are spending millions on transfers and the big future risk Liverpool are avoiding
- Wolves may just have signed a replacement for Liverpool transfer target Matheus Nunes
- Jorginho transfer shows Liverpool decision they might have to make in midfield
- I would never' - Jamie Carragher makes Chelsea and Liverpool transfer spending claim
- Richard Keys sends Alex Ferguson message to Klopp after 'calamitous meltdown'
