We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Monday, following the Reds’ emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham at Anfield.
Main Headlines
- Sturridge’s opening-day cameo lays out blueprint for new Liverpool role
- The media on Liverpool 4-0 West Ham
- How Liverpool’s loanees performed over the last week
- 5 things we learned from the Premier League’s opening weekend
- Liverpool make surprise decision on Klavan future
- Wijnaldum gives his take on Liverpool’s signings & his new role
Mignolet’s Agent Confident About Napoli Move
The British transfer window may be over but Liverpool will still be looking to offload certain players before the European deadline on August 31.
Simon Mignolet is one of those expected to move on and his agent, Nico Vaesen, says a move to Napoli is still on the cards:
“We will wait over the next few days to see if they will present an offer.
“Considering that the market will close in a few days, I imagine that we will have to do it soon if we want to make a deal everyone will agree to.
“The interest is not new. Napoli like Mignolet. They have previously enquired about his availability in other transfer windows.
“This will not be the last word on a move to them.”
Should a deal get done it will benefit all parties, with Mignolet replacing Pepe Reina in the Napoli goal, following the Spaniard’s summer switch to AC Milan.
Milner Says Keita Will Only Get Better
Naby Keita enjoyed a debut to remember on Sunday, bossing the midfield and helping his new team to a routine victory at Anfield.
Speaking to Sky Sports, James Milner said the Guinean is just getting started—a mouthwatering prospect for any Liverpool supporter:
“He’s a good player, you can see that straight away.
“He’s only going to get better, so to come into a new team, a new style of play, and to do so well, you can only imagine how good he’s going to be in a few months’ time with more games and more time with the boys.
“He’s a ball-winner, [with] great drive and fantastic ability as well. He’s top quality, like all the signings we’ve brought in.
“It’s more competition, which is exactly what you want. You look at some of the boys on the bench today and those who aren’t quite fit yet, it’s a great squad and exactly what we want.”
The early signs suggest Keita is going to be a signing of unbelievable quality—someone who can spearhead Liverpool’s title charge.
More Praise For Keita
Someone else who was impressed with Keita was Jamie Redknapp, with the former Liverpool man gushing over the 23-year-old’s performance in his Mail column:
“We’ve waited almost a year to see Naby Keita in the Premier League but boy was he worth the wait!
“He is unlike any Liverpool midfielder in the Premier League era. Keita is a pocket rocket brimming with pace and energy but also blessed with technical ability.”
Meanwhile, Ex-Reds goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has described Keita as the perfect man to take Steven Gerrard‘s No. 8 shirt:
“I honestly believe he is the only player who can take that No. 8 jersey after Steven Gerrard—I think he’s the perfect player in that position.
“He’s a beautiful player and I’ve already seen the signs that he’s going to have a major impact on Liverpool this season and in the years to come.”
Fenerbahce Keen on Klavan
Ragnar Klavan missed the victory over West Ham through injury, but he could leave before the end of the transfer window.
Despite a paucity of fit centre-backs in Jurgen Klopp‘s squad, the Reds will consider offers for their fifth choice, whose contract is set to expire next summer.
And according to Fotomac, however, Fenerbahce are keen on snapping up the 32-year-old to bolster their defensive options moving forward.
Sporting Lisbon defender Merih Demiral is also a target for the Turkish giants, who hope to get one of the deals over the line before the transfer deadline.
New Statistic Highlights Van Dijk’s Influence
Virgil van Dijk was at his imperious best on Sunday afternoon, as he continues to thrive in a Liverpool shirt.
The club’s record signing has been magnificent since joining from Southampton in January and a telling statistic sums up his importance to the cause.
Since he moved to Anfield, no player has recorded more clean sheets in the Premier League.
Liverpool haven’t conceded a home league goal since February, further summing up the impact Van Dijk is having.
Loan Move “More Likely” For Ojo
Sheyi Ojo will struggle to be a part of Klopp’s first-team plans this season and a move away could still happen.
On Monday morning, the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce responded to a question on Twitter regarding Ojo’s future, saying “a loan [is] more likely at this stage.”
Ojo needs more football at this stage in his career, and with any kind of future at Anfield looking bleak, a move away would be beneficial in his development.
