Gossip: Liverpool eye MLS defender; Ramos, Mbappe to swap clubs?
LIVERPOOL PLAY LONG GAME
With three days to go in the transfer window, it appears to have dawned upon Liverpool that they urgently need a central defender.
After Joel Matip rejoined the Reds injury list, The Telegraph says Jurgen Klopp will spend the hours before Monday’s deadline in ‘an increasingly late dash to sign a centre-back’. One that ESPN reckons could take them to New York.
Apparently, Liverpool are considering a move to take NY Red Bulls defender Aaron Long on loan. MLSSoccer.com says their in ‘interest from clubs in England and France’ in the 28-year-old, while the Washington Post has reported that Reading are also keen.
Long is a USA international with 18 caps and is this weekend with the national team in Florida where they face Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
READ MORE: Liverpool boss Klopp offers update on defender search
RAMOS NO NEARER REAL DEAL
Sergio Ramos looks increasingly likely to be available – just not in time to solve Liverpool’s current problems.
The Spain defender has been in talks with Real Madrid over a contract extension and not too long ago, it seemed the two parties were edging towards an agreement.
But Marca reckons progress has stalled and Ramos will most likely leave Real in the summer, with the club insistent that their best deal is already on the table.
Mauricio Pochettino spoke this week of PSG’s interest in Ramos as a free agent.
READ MORE: PSG post threatens to take Pochettino down wrong path
MBAPPE ‘WITHIN RANGE’ FOR PSG
Should Ramos head to Paris, he might pass Kylian Mbappe heading in the opposite direction.
Mbappe has another year to go on his contract with PSG but the France star is hardly in a rush to recommit.
Real has always seemed a likely destination for the 22-year-old, and though Covid has hampered the club’s recruitment plans, Marca says Mbappe ‘is in range’.
It may be that Real have to throw in a player or two to sweeten the deal, and PSG have apparently made clear their interest in Vinicius Jr and Thibaut Courtois. Real aren’t keen to let their goalkeeper leave, but the young forward could be involved in a part-exchange deal.
UPAMECANO’S AGENTS MEET WITH BAYERN MUNICH
Dayot Upamecano looks set to be on the move this summer too. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been linked with the RB Leipzig defender, but it appears Bayern Munich are positioning themselves at the front of the queue.
Details – very specific details – have emerged of a meeting between Upamecano’s representatives and Bayern officials in Munich on Thursday.
Bild‘s man in the bushes reports that a black Mercedes with Cologne license plates arrived at Bayern HQ at 4:15pm and Upamecano’s agents held talks over a summer move before leaving at 7:06pm.