Liverpool are actively trying to sign a first-team player before the end of the summer, writes Chris Bascombe in the Telegraph.
The information is not what we’ve heard throughout the off-season from respected Merseyside correspondents, who’ve mostly predicted no proper transfers will be made.
But with Liverpool losing back to back friendlies on the Tour of the USA – versus Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla – Bascombe reckons a new senior pro will arrive – despite Jurgen Klopp’s coyness on the matter.
“Liverpool plan to make a first-team signing in this transfer window and despite Klopp’s description of returning players as ‘like new arrivals’ a little freshening up would be reassuring,” he writes. “The lack of sharpness has been evident in the USA, although the heat and the fact Liverpool train twice on the eve of a match and in the morning of it explains why the energy levels are not what you expect from a Klopp side. Still, performances have been disappointing, regardless of mitigating factors.”
Following the injury to Yasser Larouci, horribly inflicted by a totally unnecessary Joris Gnagnon foul, for which the Frenchman rightly received a red-card – we’re very short at left-back.
It’s this position we reckon the ‘first-teamer’ will arrive, although in reality, they’ll spend most of the time on the bench behind Andy Robertson.
There’s definitely an argument that another winger is required, especially as Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn have proven so far that they’re probably not ready to rotate with our world-class front-three.
But a player good enough to come in and offer a genuine offensive outlet will cost plenty – although we’re rich and having just won the Champions League – in a position to attract near enough anybody.