Liverpool transfer updates: Klopp ‘obsessed’ with signing Real Madrid star

With the January transfer window up and well underway, Liverpool have been looking to capitalise on their gains and have had numerous links with players around Europe with the hope of securing their place well within the top four of the Premier League.

Liverpool currently sit just one point behind Chelsea but have drawn two and lost one in their last three League matches.

While Jurgen Klopp and Anfield set their sights on some high profile targets, they will have unfortunately missed out on the signing of Kingsley Coman.

Despite receiving offers from Chelsea and a lot of interest from Liverpool, Coman has confirmed he will stay with Bayern Munich, signing a new deal that will keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2027.

There had also been talk of rumours floating around surrounding contract talks with Mohamed Salah with Jurgen Klopp recently confirming his desire for the Egyptian striker to stay on.

In a recent interview with GQ Salah explained how his contract ends in the summer of 2023 but would wish to remind and is not asking for anything ‘crazy’ in his new deal, to which his manager has responded by saying in a press conference: “I know Mo wants to stay, we want to stay. That’s where we are, these things take time.”

There have also been recent reports regarding the potential summer moves of players such as Ben Woodburn, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but it is those players who Liverpool have been eyeing up that take up most of the transfer news surrounding the Reds.

It appears that Anfield have been showing intent interest in the signing of Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele while they will also hope to rival the top Premier League team, Manchester City, for Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde.

Here are the latest updates on Liverpool’s hopes of signing Dembele, Valverde and Toni Kroos.

Are Liverpool likely to sign Dembele?

Sportwitness have used the sources from Mundo Deportivo to report that the Barcelona winger is ‘on the agenda’ for Liverpool.

The French international will see his contract with the La Liga team expire in 2022 and he has so far refused to sign an extension.

The winger recently recovered from Covid-19 and returned to the pitch in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Linares in the Copa del Rey.

During an interview with l’Equipe which was subsequently related to Mundo Deportivo, Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko was critical of Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez’s decision to bring on the winger during a cup competition.

It has been reported that Barcelona and Dembele will continue to negotiate for a renewal of his contract but if there is no agreement, which would be the most probable instance at this time, he will leave the Spanish side as a free agent in the summer.

Spanish news outlet Cadena Ser have also reported that the Frenchman’s desire would be to play in the Premier League with the Fichajes.net report continuing to suggest that Liverpool are one of the clubs to ‘have shown the most interest’.

The reports, however, are also suggesting that Chelsea are one of the other clubs to have shown as much interest so the summer could signal the start of the race to sign the French and Barcelona star.

Is Federico Valverde still a point of interest for the Reds?

The Spanish news outlet El Nacional has recently claimed that Jurgen Klopp believes the Real Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde, ‘fits perfectly’ with the German’s managerial system.

While the Uruguayan’s contract under Carlo Ancellotti runs out in 2027, the midfielder is said to be unhappy with the lack of regular game time he has been given and hoping to break away sooner than the 2027 date.

It has been claimed that Klopp is ‘obsessed’ with Valverde and would be willing to make an offer with £66 million to bring the 23-year-old Uruguayan international to Anfield.

The report also stated that if Liverpool were to make such an offer, it would be ‘carefully considered’ by the Spanish team.

Valverde has played in 16 La Liga matches so far this season and Whoscored.com is currently rating the midfielder at 6.66.

Will Toni Kroos move to Liverpool?

The same news outlet has also reported that Liverpool may make moves this summer to sign another Real Madrid midfielder: Toni Kroos.

The report suggests that the German player has become a ‘key target’ for Anfield in the summer transfer window and look to be preparing to make an offer.

Liverpool are likely to make a bid of around £25 million to bring in the 32-year-old. Kroos joined Real Madrid in 2014 from Bayern Munich and his current contract is set to run out in 2023.

Kroos is reportedly facing doubt over his future and has spoken to Mundo Deportivo saying: “The length of the contract was chosen in a conscious way. When it ends, I will be 33 years of age and I will have to reflect on what comes next.

“I don’t need to enter any ambiguous games, I put the letters on the table.

“It’s my eighth season with Madrid and I have an incredible relationship with the club and I would never endanger that, I think that is something mutual.

“I have said with clarity that I want to end my career here and that could happen.”

However, El Nacional has suggested that Madrid are not sharing such a joyous reaction to Kroos’ future with the Los Blancos chiefs currently ‘not sure’ whether they should offer the 33-year-old another contract.