Reds to SEAL DEAL for Chelsea wonderkid, Ex-Everton defender to JOIN, Adeyemi INTEREST - Liverpool FC news recap
This is your Liverpool FC news update for Tuesday, 9 July with reports on Rio Ngumoha, John Heitinga, Karim Adeyemi and more.
Thiago tipped for Barca
It is now being reported that following news of Thiago’s retirement, contact has been established between Barcelona and their former La Masia graduate in an attempt to bring him on board as a member of Hansi Flick's coaching staff.
“Keep an eye on Thiago Alcantara’s name,” Gerard Romero of Jijantes FC said. “He could reinforce Hansi Flick’s staff. Contacts have already taken place and the matter is hot.
“It remains to be seen whether an agreement is reached this week.”
Thiago, 33, struggled with a hip injury for much of his last season at Anfield, appearing for only five minutes across the campaign.
His single appearance came against Arsenal in February and a subsequent injury breakdown meant he missed the rest of the season and had played his last game for the club.
Liverpool close in on Chelsea forward
Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Chelsea wonderkid Rio Ngumoha and will break their academy wage structure to complete a deal, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds are yet to make any signings for the first team but are seemingly about to strengthen their academy with a deal to sign talented 15-year-old Ngumoha.
The teenager, who was born in 2008, has represented England at youth level and has risen through the ranks at Chelsea.
Traditionally a left-winger, the teenager can also play on the opposite flank and as an attacking midfielder. He made nine appearances for Chelsea's under-18 side last term, providing two goal contributions.
According to Romano on X (formerly Twitter), the youngster is leaving the Blues' academy and is closing in on a move to Merseyside.
The deal is 'set to be completed soon' and Liverpool will break their 'historical wage structure' for the academy to make the move happen. As per This Is Anfield, the maximum wage for youth players is £50,000 per year at the club.
Origi banished by Milan
Liverpool icon Divock Origi's miserable move to AC Milan has hit a new low, with the forward banished to the Italian side's youth team and stripped of his squad number.
After an incredible spell with Liverpool, which involved scoring in the Champions League final and winning the Premier League, Origi left Anfield in 2022.
The Belgian, who became a cult hero on Merseyside for his clutch goals, joined Milan on a free transfer, but struggled to make an immediate impact in Italy.
In fact, Origi scored just twice in 36 appearances for the Rossoneri in his debut season, and was shipped out on loan to Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest last term.
There was an option to buy in that loan deal but Origi was similarly underwhelming in the Midlands, with Forest passing up the opportunity to make him a permanent member of their squad.
The 29-year-old scored just once in 22 appearances for Forest and has now returned to Milan.
Reds express Diaz doubts
Liverpool DOUBT that Luis Diaz can be their left winger in the long term amid ‘question marks’ over his output, according to a new report.
The Athletic claims that discussions have taken place inside the club about Diaz’s future with reported transfer interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Diaz, 27, has been at Liverpool since January 2022 after signing for an initial £37.5 million from Porto and has got a contract until 2027.
Unusually for a big-name signing, Diaz has not had his contract renewed since joining the club, leading to speculation that he could be sold with his terms running down.
Barcelona made an attempt to engage Liverpool in conversations earlier this year but club president Joan Laporta came away feeling the deal was ‘unfeasible’ due to the Reds’ high asking price.
Spanish media circulated that the Anfield side were seeking between €120 million and €140m for the Colombia international, a price that was far beyond the capabilities of the hard-up Catalans.
Ex-Everton defender to join
Liverpool are in talks with former Everton and Netherlands defender John Heitinga over taking up a coaching role alongside compatriot Arne Slot.
The talks were confirmed to the Dutch media by Heitinga, who left his post in West Ham’s backroom at the end of last season.
Heitinga, 40, was part of David Moyes’ West Ham coaching team but departed East London alongside the Scot following the expiry of his contract.
The ex-centre back has been building a solid career as a coach since hanging up his boots, experiencing roles at Ajax, where he worked alongside Marcel Keizer.
Keizer previously worked with current Liverpool head coach Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff at Cambuur and so Heitinga’s work will be well known to the newly-appointed Anfield staff.
"The only thing I can say now is that I have been approached and that my agent Rob Jansen and I are in talks,” Heitinga told De Telegraaf.
Burnley in for Phillips
Burnley are one of the clubs interested in signing Nat Phillips this summer according to The Athletic. The Clarets suffered relegation from the Premier League last season but are set to rebuild in another promotion attempt.
And one part of that was hiring Scott Parker to replace Vincent Kompany after the Belgian's shock appointment at Bayern Munich. Parker previously earned promotion with Bournemouth - and had Phillips in his squad as he did it.
The centre-back was on loan from Liverpool for the second half of the 2021/22 season. He played regularly, too, but Parker was unable to secure him that summer as the Reds had plans for Phillips themselves.
"He was a massive part of what we did, back-end last year," Parker said back then, per the Daily Echo.
"We brought him in in January and he was a driving force for us in getting promoted. An unbelievable professional, exceptional player in his moments.
"So who knows? But certainly at this moment, I’m sure he’s happy putting the red shirt on and playing for Liverpool."
Now, though, he has a legitimate chance to sign him. Liverpool have made Phillips available and are already receiving offers. One from Trabzonspor of around £4m was rejected for being about half of the asking price.
Reds cash in on goalkeeper
The Athletic reports that Liverpool received around £2m for Kamil Grabara this week. No, you haven't stumbled upon an article from 2021 - this was the result of a sell-on clause.
The Reds actually sold Grabara to Copenhagen back in 2021, receiving around £3m for the player. He's now gone to Wolfsburg in a deal that was initially set earlier this year.
That deal was for £11.4m and Liverpool benefitted from including a 20% sell-on clause in their sale to Copenhagen. Thus they've received around £2m this week for doing absolutely nothing.
What a deal that is.
Adeyemi considered again
Sky Germany reporter Patrick Berger claims Liverpool are on a list of clubs interested in signing Karim Adeyemi this summer. The forward is available for the right price after two years at Borussia Dortmund.
"Many top clubs are monitoring the situation of Karim Adeyemi," he writes. "Borussia Dortmund is open to sell if a top offer comes in, as already reported.
"Chelsea, Liverpool, Milan and Juventus among the clubs interested. But nothing concrete so far. Adeyemi repositioning himself as he parted ways a few weeks ago with his manager. He is in talks with potential agencies."
The Reds were first interested in Adeyemi back in 2021. Bild, among others, had them in the race as clubs looked to pry him away from RB Salzburg.
The 'problem' was that Adeyemi put in some fantastic performances in the Champions League that year, earning 'fabulous' reviews. In September, the supposed price was £17m but that skyrocketed. Dortmund ended up paying almost double by May.
It remains to be seen how much Dortmund would want for Adeyemi this summer. Berger only describes the asking price as 'a top offer' - and that could be anything from getting their money back to doubling it.
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