Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is backing the Premier League giants to make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Brighton striker Evan Ferguson in 2024.
With phase one of Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield rejuvenation project going to plan so far – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and co playing key roles in a fine start to the new campaign – plans for phase two are already underway.
According to AS, Liverpool submitted a club-record £100 million bid for Bruno Guimaraes over the summer and, while being told in no uncertain terms that the brilliant Brazilian was not for sale, the one of the Premier League’s pacesetters will not give up quite so easily with Klopp crying out for a tempo-setting, rhythm-making ‘number six’ (The Telegraph).
Liverpool are big fans of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes
“Absolutely (Liverpool should target Guimaraes),” Johnson, who spent six years on Merseyside between 2009 and 2015, tells GG Games.
“I really like him. He’s been a key player for Newcastle United and he’s got an awful lot about him, so I can understand why Liverpool would want to sign him because he’s proven himself already at this level. I think all parties would be happy if Liverpool could sign him for £100 million.”
Luring Guimaraes away from St James’ Park, however, will be easier said than done. It’s fair to say Newcastle don’t need the money, while the former Lyon playmaker has barely wasted an opportunity to remind anyone who will listen how much he has taken an adoring – maybe sometimes too adoring – fanbase to his heart.
According to The Irish Mirror, there is a belief at Brighton that teenage sensation Evan Ferguson will one day command a fee in the nine-figure bracket too, though Johnson believes Liverpool would be foolish not to ‘try’ and lure a potentially generation-defining forward to Anfield.
Evan Ferguson may be the league’s most exciting teen
“They should at least try, for sure,” the former England right-back adds. “He’s a young kid that’s burst on the scene and is scoring goals in the Premier League, which is obviously a very tough thing to do.
“Evan will have a better chance at getting into either Chelsea or Liverpool’s team than he would Manchester City’s if he decided to make the move there. I believe Chelsea and Liverpool will have their eyes on Evan already because young goalscorers in the Premier League don’t come around that often.
“You can completely understand why the big guns will have their eyes on him.”