Kvaratskhelia starts WAR, Solet BID, Hancko CONTACT

This is the round-up of Liverpool transfer news for today (Tuesday, June 18). We have updates on David Hancko, Oumar Solet, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Crysencio Summerville and more.

With the departure of Jurgen Klopp and the arrival of Arne Slot, the Reds are actively pursuing several targets to reorganize their squad.

Lijnders Liverpool Raid

Former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is preparing a raid on his former club as he pursues a deal for Reds goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, according to reports in Austria.

Lijnders has been appointed as the new head coach of Austrian Bundesliga giants Red Bull Salzburg and has also recently been linked with a loan move for Liverpool youngster standout right-back Conor Bradley.

That deal seems unlikely, but there could be hope for Lijnders in his quest to add a new goalkeeper to the Red Bulls’ squad.

Jaros won the Austrian League double and cup double last season on loan at Sturm Graz and his form was so good that he was included in the Czech Republic’s Euro 2024 squad.

Salzburg are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper after Timo Horn’s contract expires, and Lijnders has identified Jaros as his number one target, according to Salzburger Nachrichten.

The Reds get a boost to Gomez

Liverpool’s attempts to keep hold of one of their standout players last season appear to have been given a boost amid developments in Bavaria this week.

Bayern Munich, now under new boss Vincent Kompany, are looking to strengthen their squad after a disappointing season that saw them fail to win the Bundesliga title for the first time since 2012.

Europa League: Atalanta BC vs Liverpool Italy, Bergamo, April 18, 2024: Liverpool’s Joe Gomez waits for a throw-in in the second half during the football match Atalanta BC vs Liverpool, Europa League Quarter Finals Second Leg Gewiss Stadium Bergamo Lombardy Italy Copyright: xFabrizioxAndreaxBertanix

Strengthening the defense is a top priority for Kompany and the club have been linked with a number of centre-backs, including Liverpool’s Joe Gomez.

However, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah is now keen on a move to Bavaria.

According to Sky Germany, Tah is eager to join Bayern and is ready to commit to a five-year deal. However, negotiations are still at an early stage, with Bayer Leverkusen holding firm on their “huge transfer fee demands”.

Diaz asked for the SILENT price

Liverpool are ready to accept a £50million move for Luis Diaz, with the Colombian winger considered a waste this summer, according to a new report.

The Reds were previously reported to have quoted Barcelona between €120m (£101m) and €140m (£118m) for Diaz, a price that was deemed unattainable for the Barca chairman , Joan Laporta.

However, according to Football Insider, that price tag has been more than halved, with the club only looking to make a profit on the striker.

Diaz, 27, was signed from Porto in January 2022 for an initial fee of £37.5m and the final fee could reach the £50m mark due to add-ons.

And according to the report, that’s the amount Liverpool are now willing to accept for Diaz, with him being described as “very likely” to leave if that figure is met by interested parties.

Mainz frustrated by Van den Berg

Sepp Van den Berg is so far down Liverpool’s priority list this summer that it has been suggested by reports in Germany that new sporting director Richard Hughes may not even know who the Dutch defender is.

Bild report that Mainz have attempted to engage the Reds in negotiations over the 22-year-old’s transfer, but that the lines of communication have effectively died down.

Liverpool have plenty of business to attend to this summer, not the least of which is assessing the contract situations of at least three key stars in the form of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

New coach Arne Slot must assess the squad, meanwhile, after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

1:0 Mainz durch Sepp van den Berg 3, Mainz 05 17.02.2024, Fußball, 1. Bundesliga, 1. FSV Mainz 05 – FC Augsburg, 22. Spieltag, Season 2023/24, MEWA Arena, Mainz, Germany, zmdz, ** DFB and DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video. ** 1. FSV Mainz 05 – FC Augsburg *** 1 0 Mainz by Sepp van den Berg 3, Mainz 05 17 02 2024, Soccer, 1 Bundesliga, 1 FSV Mainz 05 FC Augsburg, 22 Matchday, Season 2023 24, MEWA Arena , Mainz, Germany, zmdz, DFB DFL regulations prohibit any use of photos as image sequences and or quasi-video 1 FSV Mainz 05 FC Augsburg

Factor in the need to round out the squad with new signings and it becomes apparent that Hughes – as well as FSG’s new CEO of Football Michael Edwards – have a lot to do in the tray.

All this leaves Van den Berg and Mainz in the dark about the player’s future.

Van den Berg excelled on loan with the Bundesliga side last season, playing 35 times and contributing three goals.

Liverpool ‘inquire about’ Hancko

Liverpool have reportedly ‘inquired about’ Feyenoord defender David Hancko, who was one of Arne Slot’s most used players during his time at Rotterdam.

The left-footed centre-back has been linked with Liverpool previously, even before Slot was appointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

The 26-year-old, who is currently representing Slovakia at Euro 2024, has been one of Slot’s favorite players in the Netherlands, with Hancko making 92 appearances for Feyenoord under his guidance.

Slot has only used six players more often in his career, including another Liverpool-linked defender Lutsharel Geertruida – the 45-year-old’s most used player over the years.

Slot’s presence at Anfield has undoubtedly helped fuel recent links with Hancko, but a report in Spain claims Liverpool have been linked with a move amid competition from elsewhere.

“Kvaradona” starts the civil war in Naples

A civil war is brewing in Napoli between Antonio Conte’s new side and reported Liverpool target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Battle lines were drawn at the weekend when the Georgian agent and his father dropped the bombshell that ‘Kvaradona’ is DONE at Napoli and will be looking for a move as soon as his country’s interest in Euro 2024 ends.

It was revealed by Georgian sources a few months ago that Liverpool and Barcelona were the two most prominent teams chasing the €100m-rated ace amid a contract dispute with Napoli that has led to bad blood between the two sides.

ZEIST – Arne Slot and David Hancko pose with the KNVB cup before the press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz around the KNVB cup final between Feyenoord and NEC. ANP KOEN VAN WEEL xVIxANPxSportx/xxANPxIVx 496394974 originalFilename: 496394974.jpg

And now, TBR Football are reporting that Liverpool have indeed made contact with Napoli about signing the playmaker.

Solet on the radar of Liverpool and Man Utd

Liverpool have joined rivals Manchester United in their pursuit of RB Salzburg’s Oumar Solet, with former assistant manager Pep Lijnders able to help the Reds in a potential deal.

Fabrizio Romano previously revealed that Liverpool rejected the chance to sign the centre-back last January despite monitoring him for a significant period of time.

According to a report from RMC Sport, Man Utd are one of a number of clubs who want a move for the 24-year-old as they look to strengthen their background.

Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart are also interested in Germany and while the report does not name Liverpool as suitors, it claims Man Utd are not the only Premier League side chasing Solet.

RB Salzburg are apparently willing to sanction a sale for a fee of just between £10m and £13m, perhaps due to the fact that his contract expires in 2025.

If Liverpool are serious contenders for the signature of Solet this summer – a player who has made 106 appearances for RB Salzburg – then they could call in a favor from Jurgen Klopp’s old assistant coach Lijnders.

The Reds will rival Brighton for Summerville

LeedsLive have claimed Liverpool will bid for Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville this summer, with Brighton reportedly opening talks for the Netherlands youth international.

Anfield Watch previously reported that Liverpool are weighing up a move for Summerville, the Leeds winger named Championship Player of the Season despite failing to win promotion to the Premier League with the Yorkshire club.

Crysencio Summerville

Summerville and his teammates suffered final play-off heartache, losing to Southampton in the season-ending Wembley event.

Liverpool are expected to be chasing a new winger this summer, but recent reports have suggested that interest in Summerville has cooled in recent weeks.

However, LeedsLive have claimed otherwise, revealing that both Liverpool and Chelsea are expected to make offers for Summerville in the summer window.

Al-Itti was supposed to unlock the signing of the “monster” Salah

Al-Ittihad are preparing a MONSTER bid to land Mohamed Salah this summer, with the Saudi Pro League club now believing Liverpool’s coaching change signals an opportunity to land the superstar forward.

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who also claim the SPL giants are also considering Son Heung-min and have reported Liverpool transfer target Federico Chiesa as an alternative to Salah.

Al-Ittihad chiefs have drawn up contingency plans should they fail to land Salah, as the club’s superiors are reported to be unhappy with how long a deal for the Egypt international is taking.

Salah was a major target for Al-Ittihad last summer, with the Saudi outfit bidding £150million for Liverpool’s 211-goal leader, but the Reds ended up avoiding the approach.

Since then there have been big changes at Anfield, with Richard Hughes coming in as sporting director and Michael Edwards returning to FSG as CEO of Football.

Jurgen Klopp has also left with Arne Slot coming in as head coach and that change, the report says, could be KEY to unlocking a deal for Salah.