Liverpool can move forward with planned swap deal to sign £287,000/week attacker as target put up for sale

Xavi Hernandez has reportedly put Ousmane Dembele up for sale amid multiple links with a move to Liverpool this month.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are in Cameroon competing at AFCON and so Liverpool's attacking options are limited although a 3-0 win over Brentford was an encouraging sign ahead of Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal at the Emirates.

That said, the Reds blanked against the North Londoners when they were a man down in the first leg after Granit Xhaka was sent off so it's clear they are not at their free-flowing best.

Which is why attacking reinforcements would be welcome although it's unclear if Ousmane Dembele would be the wisest option.

AS reports that Barcelona coach Xavi has grown tired of the French forward's tactics to try and negotiate a new €200million contract.

Allegedly, his agent, Moussa Sissoko, has demanded "€200 million for five seasons of salary, plus 40 million more in commissions and transfer bonus."

This is obviously way more than any club in the world is willing to pay for a player that is perennially injured.

Liverpool, who have been linked with the talented but unfortunately injury-prone winger, would do well to avoid signing him this month even if they believe they can keep him fit.

At the start of the month (or year depending on how you like to look at things), Liverpool were linked with a shock swap deal involving Naby Keita and Dembele but it simply doesn't make any sense for the Reds.

Jurgen Klopp could turn him into the best winger in the Premier League behind only Mo Salah if he could keep him fit but that's the issue. Is that possible?

A player that has struggled his entire Barcelona career to remain fit is unlikely to move to an even more intense league, with an extra cup tournament, with extra physical demands, under a coach famous for employing one of the most physically demanding tactical systems in world football and somehow improve his injury status.

It's a massive shame really but Liverpool, with all their injury issues over the last 18 months would only be opening themselves up to criticism by signing a player with his injury woes and his reported £287,000/week wages.