In Thursday’s Liverpool Roundup, Xherdan Shaqiri is heading for the exit door, Jurgen Klopp may ignore the need for a new Wijnaldum and Jeremy Doku is exciting supporters.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi sends Mbappe contract message
After signing Lionel Messi, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has wasted no time in sending Kylian Mbappe a message over his contract.
Speaking at Messi’s press conference, Al-Khelaifi says that Mbappe has “no excuse” not to sign an extension with the Parisians now that Messi has joined the club.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi poses with his jersey next to President Nasser Al Khelaifi after the press conference of Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on August 11, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
“He’s said that he wanted a competitive team – there’s no better than this team now, he has no excuse to do anything else now.”
Photo: Red and gold Liverpool x Nike concept kit
Liverpool are aiming to return to the top of the Premier League this season after a third-place finish last term.
The new season is almost upon us and we’re yet to see the club unveil its third kit but it won’t be long now.
https://twitter.com/ConceptFootbal2/status/1424302621389688834?s=20
While the concept kit is mostly red and would clash with our home kit, Liverpool should include a gold detail on the final kit they release for the 2021/22 season.
Shaqiri seems destined for Lyon move
Liverpool seem to be set to let Xherdan Shaqiri leave for a bargain fee as Lyon negotiates with Michael Edwards over his fee.
According to reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Shaqiri is ‘very close to’ joining Olympique Lyon on a permanent deal, with the Ligue 1’s current offer standing at €6m.
Xherdan Shaqiri has completed his agreement on personal terms with OL. Contract now ready until June 2024 – Shaqiri’s now pushing to join Ligue1 side, as @lequipe reporter. 🔴🇫🇷 #LFC
OL are offering €6m with add-ons, Liverpool want more. No agreement yet. Talks ongoing.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2021
According to L’Equipe, Shaqiri has already reached an agreement with Lyon over personal terms and is now just waiting for his current side and his potentially new side to reach an agreement over the fee for things to move forward.
He will earn £350,000/month until 2024 if an agreement can be reached between the two clubs.
Could Liverpool have an incoming transfer in the pipeline?
Shaqiri is close to moving to Lyon and this has led to Liverpool fans speculating that the club has an incoming transfer in the pipeline.
With Shaqiri, one of the players in Liverpool’s squad that occupies a non-homegrown slot, fans believe as soon as he leaves, the club could sign a new player.
UNSPECIFIED, AUSTRIA – AUGUST 01: (THE SUN OUT. THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool during a training session on August 01, 2021 in UNSPECIFIED, France. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The logic behind this is that Liverpool cannot sign any players not born in the UK (commonly referred to as homegrown) that are above the age of 21.
Jeremy Doku claim has fans excited
Liverpool fans have excitedly reacted to reliable news that talks with Jeremy Doku and his agent have taken place.
On Wednesday evening, Twitter erupted as the news broke from a reliable journalist, Sacha Tavolieri, that Liverpool are interested in signing Jeremy Doku this summer.
RENNES, FRANCE – DECEMBER 8: Jeremy Doku of Stade Rennais during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Stade Rennais and FC Sevilla (FC Seville) at Roazhon Park on December 8, 2020 in Rennes, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
It will apparently cost as much as €50million to sign the Belgian forward but it seems difficult to imagine Rennes rejecting that kind of money for a 19-year-old.
Klopp has internal midfield solutions
Paul Joyce reports Jurgen Klopp would prefer to find ‘solutions’ to reclaiming the Premier League title bid from ‘within’.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are reported as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders’ options to solving their Georginio Wijnaldum dilemma as the Reds are still yet to replace him 42 days after his contract expired.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 23: Gini Wijnaldum looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Ooredoo Center on July 23, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
I’m torn between disbelief and outrage. If the coaches are being made to go into the new season with the existing squad against their wishes it’s another reason why FSG are inadequate owners.
Has Jurgen Klopp a massive transfer hint?
Now, speaking to TV2, Klopp seems to have dropped his biggest hint yet that Liverpool are working to bring in new signings before the end of the summer transfer window.
The line that caught my eye, however, was when he spoke about there needing to be room to making additions and once again, Liverpool’s ability to conduct transfers this summer boils down to non-homegrown quotas.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Manager Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 11, 2021 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The gaffer said: “You have to make changes from time to time, but then there must be room to do it. We do not want more players.
“If something happens somewhere, something can happen somewhere else, but it makes no sense to add more players.”
Liverpool have two transfer priorities amid links to Doku and Sanches
Liverpool reportedly have two transfer priorities as Deadline Day edges nearer amid strong links to Jeremy Doku and Renato Sanches.
Sevilla, Spain – June 27 : Renato Sanches midfielder of Portugal & Youri Tielemans midfielder of Belgium during the 16th UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between Belgium and Portugal on June 27, 2021 in Sevilla, Spain, 27/06/2021 ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / Photonews via Getty Images)
The Daily Express reports that the first priority will be to “ensure the club gets decent money if squad players such as Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri depart the club this summer.”
They claim that “second on Klopp’s list of priorities will be to replace the likes of Origi and Shaqiri should they indeed leave the Reds.”
