Liverpool transfer news: Liam Delap plot revealed as top striker available for FREE
By
George James
George James
Here's all the Liverpool FC transfer news you need for Wednesday, January 1st 2025 as the transfer window opens.
Liverpool to strike game-changing TRIPLE deal
Transfer moves are now harder than ever to pull off because of the sheer number of different moving parts involved in a deal.
Fortunately, Liverpool's business manages to be relatively smooth sailing, as a result of the experienced professionals we have running the deals.
Although this summer was relatively quiet on the incoming front, the Reds now have Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards in charge of recruitment, who are highly regarded within the industry.
Every player is either represented by an agent who they know and trust - like a family member - or by a sports agency that takes on a number of players at the same time.
And now the Reds are ready to make use of one connection in particular.
Liverpool must CHOOSE one star to leave
Liverpool are facing a potential headache ahead of the January transfer window, and not one related to the contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Instead, Arne Slot and Richard Hughes look like they have a huge decision to make which could make or break their hunt for trophies in the new year.
Slot has relied on Ryan Gravenberch at the base of midfield in nearly every game so far this season. Liverpool tried and famously failed to bring Martin Zubimendi to the club during the summer, and have been relying on Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton as the backup options.
Both Endo and Morton have had limited minutes, and now both of them have been linked with a move away from Anfield in January. Slot needs to decide which one to let go as moves for both should be ruled out unless Liverpool find a way to convince Zubimendi, or another midfielder, to join in January.
Bayern Munich want £66m REVENGE
When Liverpool signed Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich for approximately £34m, not a tear was shed in Bavaria.
The Dutch midfielder had a tough time in Germany and was frustrated at a lack of minutes. For their part, Bayern were happy to get a good transfer fee for a player they didn’t see being capable of starting in their midfield.
Fast forward just over 12 months and Gravenberch is one of Arne Slot’s most important players and arguably the main reason, aside from Mohamed Salah, that Liverpool are challenging on all fronts this season.
Those responsible at Bayern for his departure must be kicking themselves, and a new report says that they are now looking at buying one of Liverpool’s stars for themselves.
Homegrown defender ANNOUNCES departure
Liverpool have developed a reputation as one of the finest clubs around for the promotion of young players.
The Reds’ famed academy has produced Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley among others in the last decade.
All of the aforementioned players are currently starring in Arne Slot’s first team with plenty more up-and-coming academy stars ready to make the breakthrough.
But it’s not always possible for every potential first-team star to make the grade at Anfield with one wonderkid CONFIRMING that he will be leaving the club to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot agree January plan
Liverpool know what they want from the winter transfer window. But is it what the fans are hoping for?
Liverpool's 2024 has been absolutely ridiculous, really. It started with Jurgen Klopp announcing he'd be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, with the Reds firmly in pursuit of trophies.
Then injuries struck, forcing Liverpool to rely on youth players for the first two months of the year. It worked, too - they won the EFL Cup and were on course for a quadruple.
Things fell apart, however, and while Liverpool regained their place in the UEFA Champions League, the EFL Cup would be the only silverware. Klopp stepped down and Arne Slot took over, with most predicting that the team would need to take a step back from competing.
That certainly looked the case over the summer. Liverpool signed just one player for their squad this season - Federico Chiesa. He hasn't had any sort of impact, barely making matchday squads.
Salah's agent drops contract clue
Liverpool's hesitance to re-sign Mo Salah to a new contract is clear for the world to see. After all, he's currently the best player on the planet and actively wants to play for the Reds, yet he doesn't have a new deal.
And so, there must be some other reason for hesitancy. Liverpool have now let this one run on to the 'deadline', essentially. From January 1st, teams outside of England can formally negotiate with Salah and offer him their own contracts.
So how have Liverpool let it come to this? How is one of Liverpool's all-time greats struggling to get the club to sign him up?
His agent has actually revealed exactly why.
Liverpool set €100m Mac Allister asking price
As is often the case when a player finds great form for Liverpool, Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Alexis Mac Allister.
Fichajes are not only reporting that Los Blancos are keen to sign the former Brighton man, but also that Liverpool have set an asking price of €100 million for Mac Allister.
That fee would see the Reds bank a huge profit on a player they paid just €42 million for in 2023.
It would also see Mac Allister become the second most expensive departure in the club’s history, behind Philippe Coutinho who joined Barcelona in a €135 million deal in 2018.
Inside Liverpool’s plan to sign Liam Delap
Anfield Watch can reveal that Liverpool tried to sign Liam Delap back when he was a youth team player at City’s Elite Development Squad, having caught the eye of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The German was ‘bought in’ on the forward, according to sources, after the club’s scouting team alerted him to Delap’s talents. Moreover, Klopp was even ready to integrate Delap into the first-team picture straightaway despite his tender years.
Signed by City from Derby County in 2019, Delap was already a City first-team player by 2020 before embarking on a series of second-tier loans to kickstart his senior career with Stoke City, Preston and Hull.
Liverpool were denied their opportunity to get Delap for a knockdown fee while still in his teens, potentially missing out on a huge bargain.
Delap’s development means that he will likely come with a so-called Premier League tax should the Reds opt to make an attempt to sign him.
But with the club’s track record for investing in and developing young players, his future would surely be in safe hands at Anfield.
Jonathan David available for FREE
Long-term Liverpool target Jonathan David, who was first considered by the club back in 2020 before they signed Diogo Jota, could be available on a free transfer in the summer as his contract at Lille is set to expire.
The Canadian forward has already openly expressed his desire not to move in January and so a free transfer is looking more and more likely for the 24-year-old.
As the year comes to a close many in the world of football have been reflecting on 2024, and one data expert has compiled a list of the best forwards in Europe.
Michael Reid posted the ranking on X, formerly known as Twitter, and it was topped by a familiar face.
Romano reveals how Trent is feeling
Now that the calendar has ticked over to January 1, 2025, Liverpool are powerless to prevent any one of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk from holding discussions with overseas clubs.
Trent’s future plans are currently unknown, with the player only offering a cryptic celebration following his first goal of the season which came against West Ham on Sunday. He then jetted off to Venice for a brief trip before the Reds’ next game against Manchester United this weekend.
And now noted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has weighed in on the matter, revealing Trent’s state of mind following Real Madrid’s failed transfer approach.
Answering questions for his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano was asked: “How is Trent Alexander-Arnold feeling with Liverpool refusing to entertain any Real Madrid offers in January?”
The Italian said: “Trent is already aware of Liverpool having no plans to let him leave in January. No issues and full focus on winning titles in Red, while Real Madrid keep insisting on a Trent deal for June.”
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