Get ready, Reds: The coming months will see transfer rumours surface around the likes of Alisson, Trent, Gomez, Virgil, Robbo, Fabinho, Hendo, Gini, Bobby, Mo and Mane. Oh, look…
Sadio Mane linked with Real Madrid
Here’s what happens: we get to about this time of year, and rumours start to surface that one of the big-spending teams in world football—typically PSG, Bayern, Juve, Barca or Real Madrid—want the best-performing names from whichever team generates great clicks.
This time the rumour roulette wheel has landed on the latter side, with Zinedine Zidane apparently determined to land Sadio Mane to rebuild Real Madrid.
Mane has been a key figure in the Reds attack this year, playing from the left side more often than not.
Are we spotting a potential issue yet? That’s right—Eden Hazard, Real’s summer signing who cost a minimum of £90m and who could eventually cost over £150m. And who starred as a left-sided forward for Chelsea.
Tactics have been varied, to say the least, at Real this season, so Mane and Hazard could certainly fit together somehow, but there’s also Isco, Benzema, the injured Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr and a certain Gareth Bale to fit into the picture.
Oh, and the fact that Mane signed a new deal last year, has become one of the best players in the world under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, and is playing for the world’s greatest side.
Literally.
Forgive us for not starting to panic just yet, Le10Sport.
Klopp looks ahead to 2020 start
Well, 2019 was a pretty good year for Liverpool, wasn’t it?
The Reds became champions of Europe, broke club records domestically all over the place, became champions of the world and closed out the year by being miles clear at the top of the Premier League.
Guess what? Now we get to try and do it all over again, and more! We have a league title to win and our European crown to defend, and the games simply don’t stop at this time of year.
The Reds are straight into it in 2020 with a home match against Sheffield United and Jurgen Klopp has spoken about the game against the Blades.
A lack of available bodies is a concern for the boss, with injuries hitting hard in midfield in particular.
Klopp also spoke about opposite number Chris Wilder, the excellent job he has done at United and why this will be another really tough game for the Reds.
Minamino on Merseyside
New year, new signing – so what do you need to know about the man who has taken over the No. 18 shirt? Here’s all the key info as Minamino becomes a Red.
- Our new signing will debut in the derby, confirms the boss
- Here you can see the highlights from his first day at Melwood
- And if you haven’t yet had a chance to see what Minamino is capable of, this highlights reel is exactly what you need
Quickfire LFC news
- Adam Lallana‘s future remains uncertain but Klopp has praised his fitness and mentality as he remains called upon by the Reds of late (LiverpoolFC.com)
- Andy Robertson has urged his team-mates to go the entire season unbeaten in the league (Mail Online)
- Klopp has hinted that the Reds will line up with almost the same team against Sheffield United as they did against Wolves (LFC.com)
- And Gareth Southgate says the altercation between Joe Gomez and Raheem Sterling earlier this season has made the England squad closer (Mail Online)
Around the Prem
- Arsenal want to replace Shkodran Mustafi with Dayot Upamecano (football.london)
- Daniel Sturridge is wanted by Aston Villa, as well as Marseille, after impressing at Trabzonspor since leaving Liverpool (Mail Online)
- Wolves winger Adama Traore is open to a move to Real Madrid – no mention of whether he’ll be backup to Mane or alongside him… (Squawka)
- And Pep Guardiola reckons his Man City side were the team of the decade (Sky Sports)
Stupid rumour of the day
Can we use the Mane one again? No? Alright, we’ll look at Chelsea: with a transfer ban lifted and their young players impressing this season, it’s good to see them staying sensible and having a clear plan of how to move forward.
Apparently they are considering a move for any or all of Timo Werner, Jadon Sancho, Wilf Zaha, Leon Bailey, Moussa Dembele and Samuel Chukwueze, says Matt Law of the Telegraph.
Tweet of the day
Is this still football?
The finest margins!
VAR rules out Jack Grealish's opener ?#BTAllDayer pic.twitter.com/ocaMTwyW7h
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 1, 2020
What we’re reading
Jonathan Wilson’s tactical review of 2019, in which Liverpool’s influence is felt, is pretty good in the Guardian.
And Gregg Evans has the story for the Athletic of how Aston Villa offered David Moyes a 10-year contract, but he turned down their advances.
Worth watching tonight
Arsenal vs. Man United, tonight at 8pm in the Premier League. Awful and more awful this season, so maybe there will be fun and games in the 90 minutes. Maybe not.
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