Liverpool tipped to make 'shock' move for Sunderland star

Liverpool have been tipped to make a 'shock' Deadline Day move for Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.

The Reds are expected to complete a £34m move for Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch imminently, taking their midfield arrivals this summer to four.

However, Football Insider claim that there may even be a fifth arrival, with the Reds 'exploring' a Deadline Day deal for 21-year-old Neil.

The report suggests that Gravenberch transfer will not preclude Liverpool from making an improbable swoop for the Championship star.

The Reds' interest is backed up by the Telegraph's Mike McGrath who claims that Liverpool have 'sent scouts' to watch Neil, who has featured for England Under-20s and was named EFL Young Player of the Month in December 2021.

McGrath claims that Neil has suitors in a number of Premier League clubs, adding that Burnley have already seen a loan-to-buy bid rejected by Sunderland, while the Clarets are weighing up making another offer.

South Shields born Neil, who primarily operates as a defensive midfielder, has made 110 first-team appearances for Sunderland to date, breaking through at his boyhood club when they were still in League One.

In five outings so far in 2023/24, he has one goal and is regarded as one of the Championship's brightest young prospects.

Jurgen Klopp remained tight-lipped about the chance of more signings in his Friday press conference, but waxed lyrical about his new-look younger midfield.

"When I look at the lineup before the game...yes, we've got younger but we had to," he said. "Less experienced but that's normal but we are full of desire. I love this team.

"The natural skillset is obvious but we had to change the most successful in recent history at this club: Hendo, Fab, Milly, Wijnaldum, Naby, Ox, all played big parts. You asked me if we has enough goals from midfield - we have more goals there now.

"We can play different systems and we can think about that, definitely but early in the season you keep things [going well] by not changing 12 times in four days. I think it's clear the players we have in are young, quality and in a super way really excited about this opportunity."