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Liverpool: Klopp discusses midfielder’s future; £20m winger to leave; Talisca latest?
The summer transfer window is starting to gather pace, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is intently getting on with reshaping his squad in his first pre-season with the club. Ageing central defender Martin Skrtel is the latest to depart, completing a £5.5 million to Fenerbahce, just a day after youngster Sergi Canos departed for Norwich.
These sales are no real loss for Liverpool. Skrtel, brave and combative in his heyday, was never a thinking man’s defender, and was often caught out of position, much to the team’s detriment. His form deteriorated to such an extent over the last few years of his Anfield career that his departure will not be keenly felt by the team on the pitch.
20-year-old Jordon Ibe also departed Liverpool yesterday, joining Bournemouth in a £15 million deal. The youngster will replace Matt Ritchie at the Vitality Stadium, and leaves after 58 appearances for the Reds.
Although at the opposite end of his career to Skrtel, Ibe’s departure is unlikely to upset too many fans thanks to the fee involved in his transfer. Although a promising talent, the former Wycombe winger was still a raw talent who had very little prospect of breaking into the first team over the next season. To gather £20 million for two squad players in Ibe and Skrtel represents very good business.
Naturally, with Ibe leaving, Liverpool have been linked with more attacking talent. One such player they were linked to was Benfica’s Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca, but any deal now looks in doubt with Wolverhampton Wanderers sensationally looking as if they are going to steal a march ahead of Liverpool and secure his signature.
Talisca’s agent is Jorge Mendes; the man behind Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in talks about a possible takeover of the Black Country side. This is enough for the versatile forward to reject Anfield and follow his agent to Molineux in a sensational £21 million deal.
For such a price, Talisca would have likely resulted in being an expensive squad player for Liverpool, earning limited game time either up front or in the number 10 position, where the Reds squad is stacked with talent. Although there is a certain ignominy of missing out on a transfer target to a side which has not played in the Premier League since 2012, this is not a deal that Klopp will lose sleep over missing out on.
Elsewhere, the future of Joe Allen looks up in the air with Jurgen Klopp admitting he needs to have ‘‘ with the midfielder. Allen made just eight league starts for Liverpool last season, but was on top form for Wales in the European Championships, where he was named in the official team of the tournament.
The Welshman has just one year left on his contract, but it is not yet clear whether Klopp wishes to cash in or offer the midfielder a new deal.
It is often forgotten that Allen played an important role in Liverpool’s impressive; but ultimately fruitless, charge for the 2013/14 title, where he sat excellently in a diamond with Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson. Although he may have fallen out of favour with Brendan Rodgers and then Klopp, the 26-year-old demonstrated what a fine player he was at the Euros, and should be given at least another season to establish himself in the Liverpool team. His neat passing and clever covering could still prove to be the perfect match to allow Emre Can to fulfil his huge, ebullient potential.
Finally, Lazar Markovic may be on his way out of Anfield after he was with a move to Sporting Lisbon, who are looking to replace Euro-winner Joao Mario, with the Portuguese midfielder possibly leaving the club. Signed for £20 million in the summer of 2014, the Serbian winger struggled to establish himself fully, and was loaned to Fenerbahce last campaign. His return to Merseyside has coincided with the signing of Sadio Mane, and leaving may be the best option for Markovic to make the most of his career.
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