Liverpool transfer news today: Hancko wanted, Klopp's Phillips plan

Here's the latest Liverpool transfer news roundup for Thursday 18th January 2024. The Reds are sorting comings and goings.

Lots of players have arrived at Anfield this month, just not in the usual way. Liverpool have recalled several players from loans - and are not trying to sort out what to do with them.

That doesn't mean there isn't any interest in incoming deals, though. The Reds have eyes on players, even if transfers may wait for the summer.

Here's our latest (and very quiet) Liverpool transfer news recap.

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Liverpool want Sudakov

Liverpool are back in the race for Georgiy Sudakov, according to reports. The Reds were supposedly close to getting him in the summer.

Calciomercato claims Liverpool are in the market for Georgiy Sudakov. The 21-year-old midfielder is one of the most impressive players in Ukrainian football right now - if not the most impressive.

Sudakov was named Ukrainian Footballer of the Year by Komander1 in his homeland for 2023 after a fantastic season for champions Shakhtar Donetsk. The youngster scored five times from midfield and assisted another seven - and that's in a season he started as a 19-year-old.

And so the Italian outlet understands that there is a race for Sudakov that is seriously heating up. Both Napoli and Juventus hope to sign him, while Liverpool are also there in the fight. Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also like the look of the player.

Shakhtar would want a minimum of €40m (£34m) to let him go, though. It remains to be seen if anyone is willing to offer that right now.

Phillips sticking around - for now

Liverpool are not currently listening to offers for Nat Phillips after his return to the Reds from Celtic. Jurgen Klopp has a plan for the defender.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Liverpool are not currently listening to offers for Nat Phillips. But that doesn't mean they will completely ignore things this month.

Phillips returned to Anfield after a loan at Celtic didn't go to plan. He played just six times over the first half of the season and only three of those were starts. That totalled 317 minutes - not exactly the kind of game time you want your loan player to have.

The Echo's report says that Jurgen Klopp wants Phillips around until the end of the month as he has a use for him. Joel Matip's injury has left them a little short and it may be that the 26-year-old plays in either of the two cup games coming up.

Only at the end of the month will Liverpool actively listen to offers. Really, it makes it sound as though Phillips is pencilled in to partner Jarell Quansah against Norwich City in the FA Cup in order to give Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté extra rest.