Liverpool continue to be linked with a host of players as the countdown to the new season continues.
Eight members of Jurgen Klopp’s senior squad returned to the AXA Training Center on Saturday to start pre-season training, while the rest are set to feature in the coming days after being given more time off due to playing in international matches after the home game. campaign ended.
Alexis Mac Allister arrived at Liverpool from Brighton & Hove Albion last month for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £35m. The World Cup winner was then joined at Anfield by Szoboszlai earlier this month after he completed his move from RB Leipzig less than 48 hours after the Reds triggered a release clause in his contract.
But how likely are Liverpool to sign some of the big names that have been mentioned in the rumor mill over the past few weeks? SkyBet has the latest transfer odds and it makes for interesting reading. However, it is important to take most things with a grain of salt. The players below are the names of the players the Reds are ‘most likely’ to sign this summer…
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Nicolo Barella 3/1
Barella has emerged as a rumored possibility after another impressive campaign at the San Siro.
The Italy international scored nine goals in all competitions in 52 games as he won the Coppa Italia and his side reached the Champions League final. And it seems Barella had already impressed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders.
In his book, Intensity: Inside Liverpool FC, the Dutchman revealed how the midfielder spotted him and his boss watching Inter in action against Salernitana ahead of a Champions League game against the Italian giants.
He wrote: “Friday night we watched Inter v Salernitana at the hotel, and [Nicolo] Barella was excellent.
“Jurgen asked me why I was laughing; we were in the middle of an argument, but I watched the game with one eye and saw him make another incredible pass. “I’m just so glad he’s not playing against us,” said I. “Every attack starts with him, it’s scary.”
Conor Gallagher 10/1
Gallagher emerged as a surprise target that Liverpool considered back in April as they looked to revamp their midfield this summer.
The 23-year-old, who was part of England’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, played 45 games in the 2022-23 season, scoring three and assisting one. He has just entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
As well as Liverpool, Gallagher has also been linked with moves to Brighton, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. But following the signings of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, Gallagher’s chances of a move to Anfield now look slim.
James Ward-Prowse 12/1
After being relegated with Southampton, James Ward-Prowse has been mentioned as a potential midfield option due to his qualities from set pieces and reliable work ethic in the middle of the park.
A versatile player, he can operate in wide areas, play a role like Jordan Henderson and potentially allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to cut inside as part of his new role as a ‘reverse-wing-back’.
But if Liverpool are to move for a Southampton player this summer, it is more likely to be Romeo Lavia. The ECHO understands Lavia is on the radar after an impressive individual campaign in his first full season as a Premier League player.
The Belgium international is only 19 but managed to play 29 times and stand out in a Saints side that ultimately failed to survive. But we also brought you the news that senior Anfield sources have insisted their interest has not gone beyond the due diligence process at this stage, but he is certainly a player whose ceiling and current ability mean he is well liked in the club.
Sadio Mane 18/1
Bayern Munich are reportedly willing to offload Mane this summer after just one season at the club.
The Senegal international has struggled for game time since his move from Liverpool last summer and was dropped and fined back in April after a dressing-room fight with team-mate Leroy Sane following the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.
The 31-year-old is under contract at Bayern until 2025, but that has not stopped speculation linking him with a return to the Premier League. However, given the attacking options at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, it is hard to see a return to Anfield being on the cards this summer.
Kylian Mbappe 25/1
Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017, initially on loan from Monaco before a £165.7m transfer a year later, has previously been linked with a move to Anfield.
And just last week, Edu Aguirre, a journalist from Spain, claimed that the Reds had made a €200 million bid for the striker. The claim by Aguirre came just weeks after Mbappe informed PSG in a letter sent last month that he would not trigger the further year extension to his contract, meaning he could leave for nothing in the summer of 2024.
A statement released by the player’s representatives read: “After publicly claiming in recent weeks that he would be a PSG player next season, Kylian Mbappe has not asked to leave this summer and has just confirmed to the club that he would not activate the extra year.
“The management at the club who are responsible for the extension [was informed] from 15 July 2022 of the decision [not to continue beyond 2024]. The statement then said: “The letter was only to confirm what had already been clarified verbally in advance.”
Speaking at the unveiling of Luis Enrique last Wednesday, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said Mbappe must sign a new contract if he wants to stay at the Parc des Princes. But given Mbappe’s contract standoff and the claims from Spain, the prospect of Liverpool handing over £170m to the striker in a season where they are out of the Champions League feels like a total non-starter.