Liverpool are reportedly plotting to trigger Dani Olmo's release clause.
The Reds are linked with the Spain and RB Leipzig star following his standout performances during their route to the Euro 2024 final. Olmo will be in action on Sunday against Liverpool duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez in Berlin.
It has been widely reported that the 26-year-old has a €60million (£50m) release clause in his contract at the Red Bull Arena which will expire in the aftermath of the final on July 15. Liverpool isn't alone in their supposed interest as Manchester United and Manchester City have been credited as possible suitors.
Elsewhere, it has been claimed that Liverpool are interested in Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes. The 23-year-old has been described as 'one to watch' for the Reds but the midfield isn't a priority at the timebeing.
That hasn't stopped links with Adrien Rabiot who is a free agent after the expiration of his contract at Juventus. Manchester United have been long-standing admirers of the Frenchman but claims have emerged that Liverpool and Arsenal have been offered his services.
Keep up to date with the latest Liverpool news in the ECHO's live blog below.
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Liverpool really like Joao Gomes
Liverpool are interested in Joao Gomes, according to Ben Jacobs.
The reporter has claimed the pursuit of the Wolves midfielder is one to watch but the department isn't a priority for now.
He told Give Me Sport: "Midfield is not as high on their list of priorities as a centre-back and wide player.
"But, I don’t think we can entirely rule it out and Liverpool really like Joao Gomes as well, so that could be one to watch in the coming months. But for now, midfield is not the priority."
Rabiot offered Liverpool chance
HITC have reported that Slot's side are one of many Premier League clubs who have been offered Rabiot as the Frenchman explores a move to England. In their report, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are suggested to have been approached by the agent of Rabiot - who became a free-agent after his Juventus deal concluded.
The outlet added that Rabiot does have an offer to stay in Turin but it is increasingly likely that he will as Rabiot is keen to continue his career in Europe despite interest from Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool prepared to splash out for Dani Olmo
Yesterday, it was reported that Liverpool are prepared to trigger the release clause of RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo.
Although, should they do persist, they face a race against time as the winger's buy-out clause is due to expire on Monday.
German outlet ND has claimed that the Reds are among three clubs open to triggering his €60million buyout fee.
Manchester City and Barcelona are also mooted.
Asked about the reports of his £50m clause, Olmo told El Larguero this week: "Yes, they [interested clubs] already know what to do."
Good morning
Hello and welcome to our Liverpool live-blog.
There is a European Championships final tonight but the Reds will be continuing the pre-season preparations.
Let's get cracking.
Inside Marcelo Bielsa's Darwin Nunez transformation and what Liverpool need to learn
Darwin Nunez is adored by Liverpool supporters and has become a polarising public enemy in the Premier League among rival fans since making the initial £64million switch to Anfield. The former Benfica striker, a raw and unpolished attacker followed in the footsteps of iconic Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez to become just the third-ever player from the South American country to play for the Reds.
Suarez, an idol of Nunez, fired Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side on the brink of immortality as they came agonisingly close to ending their wait for Premier League success in 2014. Few envisaged the impact that the Ajax import would have when he arrived on Merseyside in a double-signing for Sir Kenny Dalglish, in light of Fernando Torres' unceremonious exit to Chelsea.
The 25-year-old will be hoping to emulate his fellow countryman at Anfield but, in the first two years of his Premier League career, he has failed to live up to expectations. Nunez's dress rehearsal came for Benfica in the Champions League quarter-final as he proved to be a nuisance up front for the Portuguese giants.
Nunez's best return came in the most recent campaign, scoring 18 goals in 54 appearances adding 13 assists. On the international stage, he has tasted more success under Marcelo Bielsa with the former Leeds United manager getting the best out of the forward. Nunez established himself as the focal point for the Uruguayan national team after facing the daunting prospect of fulfilling the expectations previously set by Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
Stephen Killen's feature on Darwin Nunez can be read, here.
Liverpool pre-season key dates
Liverpool's preparations for the new season are well underway at the AXA Training Centre as new head coach Arne Slot has welcomed a stream of players over the last two weeks.
This week, Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo returned to Kirkby after an extended break following their international commitments earlier in the summer.
But when could we see the rest of the squad return and what are the key dates of pre-season?
During Jurgen Klopp's time at the club, players involved in international tournaments would normally be given three weeks off during the summer. However, it remains to be seen if that is something Slot will stick to.
If such terms were to be upheld by Slot, it would mean Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez would miss the entire pre-season tour of America and not return to Kirkby until the start of August - less than two weeks before Liverpool's Premier League opener against Ipswich Town on August 17.
Real Betis (N), July 27
Arsenal (N), August 1
Manchester United (N), August 4
Sevilla (H), August 11
Ipswich Town (A), August 17
Kvaratskhelia future decided
Napoli manager Antonio Conte says he expects Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to be at his club next season.
The player's agent and father had previously stated their desire to see him leave Naples, prompting the club release a statement to underline that the decision ultimately rests with them.
Liverpool have been linked with the Georgian, but it seems Conte is preparing for the new season with Kvaratskhelia in his side.
Antonio Conte confirms there’s no chance for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia exit: “The president told me he was gonna stay and this is the case, I’m very happy”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2024
“Kvaratskhelia and Di Lorenzo are key part of our project”.
Napoli are confident to agree on new deal with Kvara. pic.twitter.com/lrKQffBWTb
Liverpool star handed surprise reprieve after last-minute UEFA rule change
Cody Gakpo might have suffered a last-minute semi-final exit at Euro 2024 earlier this week, but the Liverpool forward is actually still in line to win the Golden Boot after a last-minute rule-change from UEFA.
The 25-year-old is currently one of six players leading the scoring charts with three goals, alongside England’s Harry Kane, Spain’s Dani Olmo, Germany’s Jamal Musiala, Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze and Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz.
However, historically his semi-final exit would have already ruled him out of the running courtesy of the Spaniard boasting two assists compared to his one.
Liverpool 'ready' to trigger Olmo release clause
Liverpool are reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of RB Leipzig talent Dani Olmo.
The winger's buy-out clause is apparently due to expire on Monday, meaning an ultimate decision could come within the next few days, says German outlet nd.
Olmo - set to play for Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final against England - is likely to cost more if the clause is not activated before the supposed deadline.
Asked about the reports of his £50m clause, Olmo told El Larguero this week: "Yes, they [interested clubs] already know what to do."
Fabregas closing in on double Liverpool transfer swoop
Cesc Fabregas is reportedly set to sign two former Liverpool players for newly-promoted Serie A side Como 1907, as the Italian outfit look to significantly strengthen their squad ahead of a return to the Italian top-flight for the first time in 21 years.
Fabregas is set to complete with Como this summer, with the Spaniard reportedly closing in on the signing of former Liverpool pair Pepe Reina and Alberto Moreno.
The two Spaniards have been team-mates at Villarreal for the past two seasons, but both left the La Liga side at the end of their contracts this summer.
Liverpool could offload wantaway star to sign Salah successor
Sepp van den Berg might currently be catching the eye of Arne Slot and his backroom team after reporting back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season, but the centre-back reportedly still wants to leave Liverpool this summer in search of first team football.
Bundesliga club Mainz had him on loan last season and want to keep him, with sporting director Christian Heidel twice opening up about their ongoing pursuit of the Dutchman.
“The only one who has made a decision is Sepp,” he told Kicker last month. “He definitely wants to stay in Mainz. He has said that very clearly in public.”
Van den Berg 'unhappy' with Liverpool demands
Reports from the Netherlands, as relayed by PSVInside, claim that Sepp van den Berg is frustrated with the price tag Liverpool have slapped on him amid his desire to leave the club.
The ECHO understands that the Reds are looking for around £17m for the defender, who has made it clear he no longer wishes to be contracted to Liverpool.
It is now being rumoured that the player has voiced his annoyance with Liverpool's steep asking price, which might be too high for the likes of linked clubs PSV Eindhoven and Mainz.
Slot explains why new coach was hired
Liverpool announced the arrival of Wolfsburg assistant Aaron Briggs earlier this week, with the 37-year-old joining as an individual development coach.
Arne Slot has now further explained his duties, telling club media of what to expect from the former Manchester City backroom staff member.
"I don’t know if it’s the exact right word to use in English but most importantly he is finding the bridge between the youth academy and the first team.
"Doing a lot of one-on-one meetings with the players as well, and of course helping us during the training sessions.
"He is just a member of our staff, maybe a bit more focused on the players that are in between the U21s and the first team, but he has an analyst background as well as being an assistant coach so we’re going to use him in every department."
Reality on Neves reports
Liverpool will certainly not fork out anything anywhere close to £100m for Joao Neves, who has only played 75 senior club games across his career.
So, while undoubtedly a talent, it's unlikely that the Reds have made him a 'priority' if Benfica's stubbornness over his price is true.
Liverpool have a number of areas that need bolstering, with defensive midfield undoubtedly one of them. But the club have historically shown they will not pay out over the odds for a player and are unafraid to turn to alternatives if required.
Neves 'a priority'
A report from Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha speculates that Liverpool have made Joao Neves their top midfield priority this summer.
It says that two bids of £51m from other clubs have been rejected. Liverpool would apparently face competition from Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea for the 19-year-old.
Neves is widely reported to have a release clause of just over £100m, with Benfica said to be holding out for a fee close to that figure.
Nico Williams tipped to replace Mohamed Salah
Former Spain international Gaizka Mendieta believes Nico Williams could be the player to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
Williams has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this summer. With Salah's contract set to expire next year, Mendieta the Athletic Bilbao star could be the ideal successor.
“Nico Williams has the talent to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. Although he's very young, he's dealt with a lot of pressure already, not only in Athletic Bilbao but also with the Spain national team," Mendieta told OLBG.
“He’s incredible 1v1. He can play on both wings, although on the left, I think he gives more to the team. He could play for Liverpool, the way they use wingers.
“Luckily for Athletic Bilbao, players from Bilbao love to play for this club and they play in Europe next year, so if someone wants to sign him they need to be prepared to pay.”
Defender leaves Liverpool
Defender Adam Lewis has completed a switch to League Two outfit Morecambe after 19 years in the youth ranks at Liverpool.
The 24-year-old - who earned two caps for England's under-20s - made one senior appearance for the Reds, playing a full 90 minutes at left-back in a 1-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Shrewsbury in April 2020.
Taking to Instagram, Lewis thanked Liverpool for their guidance throughout his stay, stating:
“19 years at a special club has come to an end. Would like to say a massive thanks to staff, players and fans for everything and all the opportunities I’ve had.
“Liverpool will always hold a special place in my heart. Now onto a new chapter [at] Morecambe, looking forward to the season ahead and meeting the fans can’t wait to get started.”
Liverpool to bring in vital new staff member
Liverpool are continuing to recruit for Arne Slot’s backroom team at Anfield, with the Reds now looking to bring in a new addition to their research, recruitment and analysis team.
A number of adverts have been placed on LinkedIn looking to fill various other roles behind the scenes at Anfield.
And the latest sees the club now looking to recruit a new lead data scientist to join their research department, with Liverpool’s director of research, Will Spearman - who succeeded Dr. Ian Graham in the role last year, sharing the job advert on the social media platform.
Andre Trindade set for PL move
Andre Trindade is reportedly closing in on a move to the Premier League after being linked to Liverpool.
According to Brazilian news outlet Trivela, Fulham are edging closer to signing the Fluminense midfielder this summer despite having an initial offer worth €25 million (£21 million) rejected.
Liverpool were heavily linked with a move to sign Trindade last summer. It has been stated that Fluminense are seeking a fee closer to €30 million (£25 million) after accepting the midfielder looks set to leave the club.
Adrien Rabiot update
Liverpool are being credited with an interest in signing France international Adrien Rabiot.
Rabiot is a free agent after his contract with Juventus expired earlier this summer.
According to HITC, Liverpool have been approached by Rabiot's agent about the possibility of signing Rabiot on a free transfer this summer.
The report states that Arsenal and Manchester United have also been approached by Rabiot's representatives.
Caoimhin Kelleher future hint
Caoimhin Kelleher has dropped a subtle hint about his Liverpool future after reporting back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season training.
The Republic of Ireland international was one of the first eight senior players to return last Friday and has now completed his first week under new head coach Arne Slot.
The 25-year-old’s Anfield future remains the subject of speculation, and Kelleher was asked about his hopes for the upcoming season when speaking to club media on Friday.
“It’s obviously been such a long time since I came over when I was 16,” he said. “Time flies, I’ve enjoyed every minute here to be fair. I just want to try to keep going and keep going on an upward trajectory as well. It’s been really enjoyable and I’m looking to push on.
“Similar to last year I think, really. Obviously I had a lot of games last season which was really good. So I’m just looking to kind of do the same really and keep the same level of performances up.
“We wanted to win trophies last season and stuff, but I don’t think it was a complete disaster. The bones of the squad are still there and we want to push on really. It’s not a rebuild or anything like that, it’s just find those little extra things that can hopefully push us on and get us over the line and to win some more trophies.”
Ederson transfer update
Liverpool are still being linked with a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
According to Give Me Sport, the Brazilian is refusing to rule out making the switch to Anfield this summer.
The report states that Ederson would be interested in signing for Liverpool, but add that the Reds are not currently pursuing a deal to sign the Europa League-winning midfielder at this stage.
Club president makes Liverpool claim over Euro 2024 star
Liverpool have been told what they may have to pay to sign Galatasaray star Baris Alper Yilmaz.
Yilmaz left Ankara Keciorengucu in 2021 to complete a move to Galatasaray.
Keciorengucu president Sedat Tahiroglu has confirmed that the club has a sell-on clause in the deal that saw him move to Galatasaray.
Tahiroglu also stated that he believes Liverpool are interested in signing Yilmaz, but will face competition from Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund for his signature.
"We have 20 percent of Baris Alper Yilmaz's share but Galatasaray has not requested a meeting with us on this issue," Tahiroglu told Turkish news outlet Aksam. "I hear Liverpool and Arsenal want him but I know Nuri Sahin definitely wants him [at Dortmund].
"I don't think the price will be €50 million (£42 million). He can be sold for around €30 million (£25 million).
"The path needs to be paved for young people for Turkish football. Hopefully, he will make the decision that is good for him.
"The money is not important. The important thing is for Baris Alper to go to a team where he will be successful because he will be the face of Turkey."
Liverpool transfer gossip
Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with updates on Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu and Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Marcelo Bielsa rages at Darwin Nunez suspension threat
Uruguay head Marcelo Bielsa was furious in his press conference ahead of his side's third-place match against Canada in the Copa America.
After his team were beaten 1-0 by Colombia earlier this week chaos ensued scuffles began to break out around the stadium leading Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez to enter the stands before he was involved in a physical altercation with Colombia supporters.
Bielsa has slammed US Soccer and organisers of the tournament, the CONMEBOL federation for their poor planning. Both Uruguay players and staff were attacked after the semi-final fixture.
He said: "One has to speak thinking about all the threats that one receives if one speaks.
"The only thing I can say is that the players reacted as any human being would have done. If they are attacking his wife, his mother, a baby, his wife, his sister... What do you do?
"Do you ask if they are going to sanction those who went to defend? There is a degree of complicity because the questions also act in a complicit manner. You (the journalists) have to say this, not what I have to say."
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia update
Liverpool are continuing to be linked with a move for Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
According to HITC, the Reds - along with Manchester City and Arsenal - have received approaches from the Georgia international's representatives over a move this summer.
The report also states that Napoli have received contact from unnamed Premier League clubs with enquiries about signing Kvaratskhelia.
However, it has been stated that the Serie A club have dismissed the approaches as they are determined to keep the forward beyond this summer.
Liverpool linked with Fenerbahce defender
Liverpool have been credited with an interest in signing Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu. According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the Reds are among a host of clubs considering a move for the versatile defender this summer.
The report states that Liverpool are set to compete with Manchester United, Newcastle and Juventus for the signing of Kadioglu, while Arsenal have previously been linked.
However, it has been stated that Man United are ahead of the Reds in the race to sign the left-back, who is also capable of performing at centre-back or right-back.
Fenerbahce, who have Jose Mourinho as their new manager, have reportedly put a €30 million (£25 million) asking price on Kadioglu's signature this summer.
Arne Slot shares Mohamed Salah update
Arne Slot has been impressed by what he has seen from Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian reported back for the start of Liverpool pre-season training earlier this week.
The 32-year-old made his return on Wednesday at the AXA Training Centre, undergoing individual testing alongside fellow returnee Wataru Endo, before being pictured in team training on Friday.
“Mo came back strong, he was really fit,” Slot told club media. “I think that is what he has always been, but it’s the same this year. What you want from them is to set the example for the youngsters as well, and for them, it’s very important that they stay fit.
“They are full of energy and that is the most important thing at the moment. Keep them fit, build it up from there and try to learn them as much as we can.
“The most players that are here at the moment are coming from the Under-21s. I have to give them a compliment because they are full of energy, like to press, like to counter-press, they’ve been taught really well.
“And the ones that are here from the first team are giving the right example to the youngsters. It’s been a joy to work with them in the first week.”
