Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool may need to sign a new holding midfielder this summer – with club icons Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both wanted by teams in Saudi Arabia
Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer – with more players expected to arrive.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are keen to return to the Champions League as soon as possible after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season. They are the favourites to win the Europa League next term, a tournament West Ham and Brighton have also qualified for.
Liverpool are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, according to The Guardian. It’s claimed the Reds will consider swooping for the Italy international, 30, if Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leave Merseyside for Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ettifaq has agreed a £12million fee with Liverpool for Henderson, 33, with a £700,000-a-week contract on the table, while Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad want to sign Fabinho, 29, in a £40m deal. Both transfers hang in the balance.
Verratti is one of the most respected midfielders in Europe after playing more than 500 first-team games and winning 32 trophies – including nine Ligue 1 titles and Euro 2020. Yet PSG will only sell him if the price is right. It’s believed they want £70m.
Schmadtke drops hint
Jorg Schmadtke could stay at Liverpool beyond this summer. The 59-year-old was appointed as the club’s sporting director in May after signing a one-year contract, but that deal includes a break clause which can be activated at the end of this transfer window.
Schmadtke, who left a similar position at Wolfsburg in January, was initially expected to leave Liverpool in September. Yet the German has now admitted he could stay for longer. “We’re waiting until the end of August,” he told Sky Sports.
We’ve signed an annual contract, but have the opportunity to ask each other in August, are we both still sure or not. If someone isn’t sure, then we shake hands and I might get a ticket if I want to stop by.
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