A round-up of transfer news and more involving Liverpool Football Club this Thursday evening.
Georginio Wijnaldum scores the third goal for Newcastle from the penalty spot
Liverpool are closing in on Newcastle United midfielder Giorginio Wignaldum, according to Sky Sports, with the Reds said to have agreed a fee of £25 million with the Championship club.
Wijnaldum is expected to undergo a medical, which is said to last two days, and then join up with the Reds on their tour of the United States.
It looks as though it will be a case of one midfielder in and one midfielder out at Anfield as news broke last night that Joe Allen looks set to leave the Reds.
Liverpool’s Joe Allen warms up before the match
The Guardian among others have reported that Liverpool have accepted an offer of £13 million for the Wales international from Stoke City. Swansea City were also said to be interested the player, who has just the one year remaining on his contract at the club.
One other man who could leaving the club, although on a temporary basis, is defender Jon Flanagan, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that the 23-year-old is considering a loan move to Burnley.
Flanagan hasn’t flown to the USA to be part of the squad as Jurgen Klopp would like him to get some more playing time under his belt this season, especially given the Reds are without European football.
The right-back returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines In January following a knee injury, and made eight appearances.
Liverpool’s Jon Flanagan
It has become increasingly clear that Mario Balotelli doesn’t have a future at Anfield, and the focus is very much about offloading him, and according to a report from Italian outlet Tuttosport, his former manager Roberto Mancini could take a gamble on him.
Mancini managed Balotelli at his previous spell as Inter Milan boss as well as at Manchester City, though judging from wording in the report, it could be on a loan deal rather than permanent move.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
Away from transfers, Liverpool made it four wins from four in their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town last night but it wasn’t all good news for the Reds as Lucas Leiva limped off with a hamstring injury, leading to the bizarre situation of young goalkeeper Shamal George playing as a striker for half an hour.
Klopp spoke to Liverpool’s official website about Lucas’s injury, saying: “It’s muscle so we have to wait.
“But things like this happen – that’s how it is. It’s always unlucky and never in the right moment, but we have to wait for the exact assessment.”
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