Former target confirms Liverpool medical + contract extension sealed + five days to trigger €40m exit clause - Roundup

In Friday's Roundup, Liverpool have extended Kelleher's contract, sealed the deal to sign Fatawu Issahaku, have five days to trigger Otavio's €40m exit clause and much more.

Nathaniel Phillips reveals Virgil van Dijk text

Nat Phillips emerged as an unlikely hero for Liverpool this season as he helped his side finish in third place and secure Champions League qualification.

He told Goal's Neil Jones: “Virgil has been amazing. If he was ever at a game at Anfield, he would come and speak to me and Rhys [Williams] at half-time, for example, and give us some advice.

“He sent me a message at the end of the season saying he thought I’d done really well in difficult circumstances, and that I should be proud of myself.

Liverpool agree new contract with Kelleher

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed that they have completed contract negotiations with Caoimhin Kelleher and he has signed a new long-term deal.

The 22-year-old was in talks with the club for months and while the plan was previously for him to go out on loan and get more first-team experience, he will stay at Anfield.

Despite Adrian signing a new contract last week, Kelleher will be second-choice behind Alisson Becker.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: “I am happy to get it over the line and finally done; it was in the pipeline for a few months with negotiations and stuff, so I am delighted to get it done.”

PSG could be preparing for Kylian Mbappe exit

Kylian Mbappe has asked to leave PSG and with the Ligue 1 side splashing the cash this summer, could they be pre-emptively spending the money they might generate from his exit?

French journalist Daniel Riolo, who works for RMC Sport, claims that the forward has asked to leave Parc des Princes.

As per Corriere dello Sport, via Marca, Cristiano Ronaldo could move to PSG with his agent, Jorge Mendes, set to fly to Milan in the next few days to discuss his client's future.

Signing Ronaldo would put a significant drain on PSG's finances not just in terms of his transfer fee but also in terms of the weekly wage he would command.

Liverpool have four days to trigger Otavio clause

Liverpool are reportedly the first-choice destination for Porto's Otavio but his €40million release clause is set to increase to €60million on July 1st.

According to the print edition of Correio da Manhã, via Sport Witness, there are a few clubs interested in signing Otavio this summer with Liverpool credited with an interest in the player.

Fiorentina and Valencia are also said to be keen on signing the Portuguese star but Klopp apparently has the upper hand, as per the newspaper.

They say that Liverpool are the ones who 'most seduce' Otavio even if he sees a move to either Valencia or Fiorentina ‘with good eyes’.

Crucially, Correio da Manhã says that he has an exit clause worth €40million that will expire in six days before it increases to €60million.

Fekir confirms he underwent Liverpool medical

It's important to understand how devastated Fekir must have been given that he had already conducted his first interview with Liverpool and had even pulled on the club's kit for photos to be taken.

He was then off to the World Cup where he didn't feature much in France's triumph all while the media was speculating about why the biggest moment in his career was taken away from him.

Speaking to L'Equipe, via the Liverpool ECHO, he said: "Lots of lies were told and they affected me. Especially those told about my family. It hurt them and me. Especially when you know that’s what being told is false."

Liverpool will have to fight Arsenal for Alexander Isak

Liverpool are tracking Real Sociedad ‘battering ram’ Alexander Isak, according to local newspaper Noticias de Gipuzkoa, who is viewed as a replacement for Firmino.

The Basque newspaper claims that Liverpool have been tracking Isak and have been really impressed by his form this season and want to sign him as a replacement for Firmino “in the not too distant future.”

The Basque newspaper claims that Liverpool have been tracking Isak and have been really impressed by his form this season and want to sign him as a replacement for Firmino “in the not too distant future.”

The situation is further complicated by a new report from AS which claims that Arsenal have made contact with his agent and are prepared to trigger his £70m exit clause.

Malen of interest to Liverpool but no talks yet

Anfield Central reached out to sources with inside information on Dutch football, who told us that Liverpool plan to hold talks with PSV and his agent after the EUROs but nothing concrete has been discussed yet.

The only enquiry that sporting director Michael Edwards has made was over how much it would cost to sign Malen, with a £25m price tag being quoted some months ago.

And finally, Liverpool HAVE signed Issahaku

Another source from Ghana has confirmed that Liverpool have signed Fatawu Issahaku from Steadfast FC for over €1million despite suggestions to the contrary.

It was recently denied by domestic reporters that Liverpool are in agreement to sign Issahaku or that there is a commitment to do so when he turns 18.

However, a senior source has told Anfield Central that there is an arrangement in place to sign the 2021 U20 AFCON Player of the Tournament.

The 17-year-old's move to Liverpool has earned Steadfast FC a fee worth over €1million which is incredible given the player's age.

A source told us: He said: "Ghana has great football talents and has had a good number of them. The greatest of them all is Abedi Pele. It is interesting to note that, Fatawu Issahaku, at his age, is being likened to the legend Abedi Pele.

"His talent is ferocious. For his age and playing in Ghana's lower tier, it is because of his notorious potential that's already made him a star."