Liverpool FC Thread #142:- 2017 Pre-Season

[NI KI]

Liverpool face a make or break week in their pursuit of RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.

The Guinea international, who is keen to move to Anfield, is set to have showdown talks with the Bundeliga outfit's management board over his future.

Jurgen Klopp will eagerly await the outcome of those discussions in the hope that Leipzig reluctantly agree to open negotiations over a deal.

Liverpool are prepared to shatter their transfer record in order to secure the services of the highly-rated 22-year-old.

A price tag of £70million has been mooted in Germany but Leipzig have previously informed the Reds that Keita is not for sale at any price.

That stance could change if Keita informs Leipzig that he isn't prepared to stay put for another 12 months and his heart is set on signing for Liverpool.

Any fee for Keita, who is under contract until 2020, is bound to be significantly bigger than the club record £37million the Reds spent on Roma’s Mohamed Salah last month.

Liverpool know there is a 55milion Euros (£48million) release clause in Keita's contract which comes into effect in the summer of 2018.

However, Klopp is desperate to sign him now rather than wait another 12 months.

The dynamic box-to-box midfielder scored eight goals and contributed eight assists in 31 league appearances for Leipzig last season.

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No Trent Alexander-Arnold with England as Liverpool youngster prepares for huge season



England U19s begin their campaign in the European Under-19 Championship in Georgia this afternoon - but Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be with them.

The West Derby teenager was not among the final 18 announced by coach Keith Downing on June 26 despite playing a key role in qualifying.

Alexander-Arnold played in six of the qualifying games for the tournament, scoring four goals and providing one assist from his right back position.

The 18-year-old would have been playing on the opposite side to Ryan Sessegnon, the Fulham teenager who was a summer target for Liverpool but who decided to stay at Fulham and signed his first professional deal there last week.

The lack of Alexander-Arnold with England is no slight on his performances however.

Liverpool and England had a discussion about the player’s availability at the end of the season and it was felt that the best thing for the youngster in the longer term was to rest this summer.

He has a huge year ahead and going away with England at this stage would have meant he would have missed a large part of the Reds' pre-season.

It is expected he will be used extensively as a back-up to Nathaniel Clyne as Jurgen Klopp looks to juggle his resources with the extra demands of European football.

Alexander-Arnold made 12 appearances last season, including seven starts, while also starring for the U23s when available.

England U19s start their Euros fixtuires against Bulgaria in Tblisi at 2.30pm before taking on Holland on Thursday at the same time.

Their final group game is next Sunday at 5pm against Germamy.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-final stage.
Sessegnon told thefa.com: “Seeing the U20s win the World Cup gives us additional motivation because it shows that England teams can win tournaments,

“We’ve struggled as a country in the past but the U20s winning gives us that belief. Those players aren’t much older than us so for those to be world champions at U20 level can inspire us to be champions of Europe.

“It would mean everything to me to win a tournament like this. Winning tournaments at any level of football is good but to do it for your country is even better.”

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Andre Wisdom has joined Derby County after completing his permanent transfer from Liverpool today.

A deal was agreed between the Reds and the Championship side last month for the 24-year-old to make the move – a return to the Rams following his loan spell in 2013-14.

Wisdom – who can play at centre-back and right-back – progressed through the ranks at the Academy to earn a first-team debut in September 2012, which he marked with a goal in the Europa League victory over Young Boys.

The versatile defender featured in a further 21 games for Liverpool, while building up senior experience during recent seasons with loans at West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Red Bull Salzburg.

Everyone at Liverpool FC thanks Andre for his contribution to the club and wishes him the best of luck in his future career.

[NI KI]

Naby Keita.. by the numbers

He stands up to any other midfielder..

[elimmel]

So many numbers... A no. 8 on the back of his new Liverpool jersey will do nicely.

Btw, any of the friendlies will be shown on TV?

[NI KI]

Originally Posted by elimmel

So many numbers... A no. 8 on the back of his new Liverpool jersey will do nicely.

Btw, any of the friendlies will be shown on TV?

from what I have read Keita has requested for shirt number 8 if he sign for us

most probably livestreaming will have

[NI KI]

Steven Gerrard began his first day as Liverpool U18s manager on Monday as pre-season training started at the club's Academy complex – and he's already itching to take the reins for his first competitive game.

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Leipzig ready to drive a hard bargain over Keita - report

Yesterday was an interesting day with regards to Naby Keita.

There were various reports doing the rounds that the Reds had agreed a wage package with the 22-year-old and that he was ready to showdown talks with Leipzig.



A report in today’s BILD claims that no such meeting took place - but that the player is back in Leipzig earlier than his team-mates, which the newspaper admit is unusual.

BILD also report that Leipzig are still unwilling to part with Keita, because the club do not feel they can buy an adequate replacement - although a Bundesliga record bid of around £70m could perhaps persuade them to change their mind.

They also report that there is no official offer for Keita, but with two months of the transfer window remaining, the situation could change - just as it did for Sadio Mane at Red Bull Salzburg in 2014.

[NI KI]

Congratulations to Emre Can for winning the Confederations Cup with Germany!

[NI KI]