Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has revealed that he persuaded Moises Caicedo to sign for the Blues instead of Liverpool during the summer.

The Reds had agreed a fee of £111m with Brighton to sign the Ecuador international (BBC Sport), but the west London outfit hijacked that deal with their own £115m offer and won the race for his signature (The Telegraph).

The 22-year-old’s fellow South American has said that it was he who intervened to try and persuade the £150,000-per-week powerhouse (Capology) to opt for Stamford Bridge over Anfield.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Big Interview (via Daily Mail), 2022 World Cup winner Fernandez said: “I called and told him that he had to accept and come because Chelsea is a great and ambitious club.

“I have to thank God for giving me the chance to play alongside him at Chelsea because we all know the great player he is, but he is also a fantastic person, so I’m thankful he chose Chelsea.”

Caicedo added: “It was a nice chat. I mean, the fact that a world champion was phoning you, one of the best midfielders in the world.  Receiving that call was very nice and he convinced me to come here. He said it was a great club, that there are many young players, there was a togetherness here.”

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At the time of Caicedo’s move to Chelsea, it felt like a hammer blow for Liverpool to miss out on the Ecuadorian, with the Reds having been desperately trying to sign a defensive midfielder in the wake of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson leaving for Saudi Arabia.

Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch subsequently came through the door at Anfield, although it’s Alexis Mac Allister who’s occupied the number 6 role for most of the season so far.

The £115m midfielder has had a decent if unspectacular start to life at Stamford Bridge, carving out a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred starting XI but ranking just 11th in WhoScored‘s overall performance metrics among the Blues’ squad.

He cost more than three times what Liverpool paid to Bayern Munich for the Dutchman, who’s plundered two goals and two assists in his first 13 games for the Reds (Transfermarkt) and given some masterful performances.

It mightn’t have felt like it at the time, but Fernandez’s intervention to persuade Caicedo to join him at Chelsea may actually have been a blessing in disguise for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

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Gary Neville has claimed that Liverpool’s owners FSG have been ‘shocked’ by a number of reported Liverpool transfer targets who’ve either moved (or could move) to other clubs for nine-figure fees.

The Reds have been linked with Enzo Fernandez, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice over the past year, only to see the trio join Chelsea (£106.8m), Real Madrid (£88.5m, potentially rising to £115m) and Arsenal (£105m) respectively.

Moises Caicedo has also been named as a possible transfer target at Anfield (Football Insider), although Brighton reportedly want £100m for their Ecuadorian midfielder (The Athletic).

Speaking on The Overlap, Neville said that FSG have been caught out by other clubs being able to offer more for those players and duly get the deals done, adding that it could come back to haunt Liverpool further down the line.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “They haven’t got the money to be able to compete, and it’s shocked them in the market. The Bellingham deal was £100m, Rice another £100m, Fernandez £100m, Caicedo £100m.

“They’re at that point where they’ve hit the ceiling at a lower level than the other clubs, and it’s going to come and hit them like a ton of bricks.”

Liverpool’s relative parsimony in comparison to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs has seen them miss out on a number of reported transfer targets in the past few years, something which has frustrated many Reds supporters.

That said, big-money purchases such as Darwin Nunez (initial £64m), Virgil van Dijk (£75m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m) illustrate that the Merseysiders can push the boat out when they feel it’s worth doing so.

You can view Neville’s comments in full below, via The Overlap on YouTube:

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It’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict the value of a footballer thanks to inflated transfer fees, with Chelsea’s latest purchase of Enzo Fernandez for £105m hardly helping matters in that regard.

Simon Jordan has predicted the sale may very well cause problems for Liverpool come the summer when they look to take Jude Bellingham off Borussia Dortmund’s hands.

“If you’re going to talk about people like this kid going from Benfica for £105m and you’re looking at Bellingham and all that goes with him, you’re starting to move into the territory of £125-150m,” the talkSPORT host said. “They won’t be asking for it on the drip either, Dortmund will be saying ‘we’ve got a load of suitors, so you pay it and you pay it now’.”

Jurgen Klopp is understood to be absolutely obsessed with the player regardless, with the player now looking a vital part of the rebuild desperately needed at Anfield.

READ MORE: Six current free agents that Liverpool could still sign after the close of the transfer window

READ MORE: (Video) Key Newcastle man set to miss Liverpool’s trip to St. James’ Park through suspension

We knew already that a fee in the region of £130m was likely for a player deemed to be a generational talent with an incredibly bright future in the game.

The difficulty now, of course, is that the Englishman no longer looks simply a quality addition to a squad boasting much in the way of world-class talent in the midfield – but now a minimum requirement signing to halt the rot spreading in the middle of the park amid Fabinho and Jordan Henderson’s collapse.

It says a great deal that we’re now relying on an 18-year-old and two injury-prone options in Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara to save our season.

Though it’s perhaps not the project Bellingham himself imagined he’d be joining in the summer, we’ve reached a point where our need for the 19-year-old has become desperate.

You can catch the full clip below, courtesy of talkSPORT:

“Borussia Dortmund are going to be rubbing their hands together.”

“If Enzo Fernandez is going to #CFC for £105m… then you start to move into the territory of £125m-£150m for Bellingham.”

Simon Jordan believes #LFC will have to break the bank for Jude Bellingham. pic.twitter.com/kIlGALs3FO

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 1, 2023

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The delight of Liverpool fans at hearing of their club’s interest in Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernández is of no surprise given the club’s lack of midfield players in recent seasons.

The news has even encouraged some fans to start looking for the top online sportsbook for trends and stats which can help them accurately place the next bet on their favourite team.

Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, the Reds have only acquired one player in Thiago Alcantara to their roster who can play in the midfield position permanently. There is an understandable elation over prospective signings, as the Liverpool midfield has been a perennial weak spot, even throughout the team’s recent run of success. They may want to upgrade their midfield by signing both World Cup stars.

Will it be Jude Bellingham?

It’s well-known that Bellingham is the primary goal for Liverpool for someone in the middle of the field this coming summer. Given the availability of the starting midfielder, his family’s willingness to move back to England, and Liverpool’s extensive courtship of him, the Reds are now in the driver’s seat hoping for success. However, no one is counting their chickens just yet.

READ MORE: ‘Been talks…’ – Reliable journalist Jacque Talbot drops LFC transfer update as Koopmeiners move shut down

READ MORE: Liverpool obliterating Man City & Arsenal in PL statistic as FSG need clearer than ever

Or is it Enzo Fernandez?

Reports out of Argentina regarding possible negotiations with Fernández have piqued the interest of Liverpool supporters. Liverpool has denied that any deals have been made, but it would be shocking if the Reds’ recruitment department doesn’t know about the player’s requirements. It would be perilous for a team in such dire need of an upgrade in the midfield to not at least get in touch with the agents of a few possible prospects.

If there is a chance that the Reds will not be able to sign Bellingham, then Fernández is a natural replacement for them.

Or it could be both

It’s still possible that Liverpool will go after both players in the upcoming summer. Because of the impending exits of James Milner, Naby Keta, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as the uncertain future of Thiago’s contract and the advancing years of Jordan Henderson, the club will have to make some changes. Bellingham and Fernández can play together in midfield despite their different profiles, thanks largely to the latter’s adaptability.

And so, we come to the vital question of cost, which is not as much of a concern as one might think. After the club signed Darwin Nunez, sources close to the organisation said that high transfer prices would not be a significant obstacle to future transactions. A more extensive midfield spending spree than in 2018 — when Keta and Fabinho were brought in — is possible now, thanks to the money saved in previous transfer windows.

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Liverpool have been handed a summer transfer window boost after Chelsea’s talks with Benfica over the potential transfer of Enzo Fernandez officially ‘collapsed’.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Twitter that the Portuguese giants were unprepared to budge on their mega-valuation of the Argentine midfielder.

Enzo Fernández deal. As things stand, Chelsea & Benfica have not scheduled new meeting after talks collapsed #CFC

Rui Costa always said: €120m [clause] or no way. Chelsea verbally discussed that with Benfica then official bid was €85m. No deal.

https://t.co/a58uN3CYyC pic.twitter.com/5NuEZDoECZ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2023

Coming in the middle of a campaign, the club’s reluctance to sell their World Cup winner is more than understandable, though it wouldn’t be at all unrealistic to suggest there may be greater flexibility on the matter come the summer.

READ MORE: ‘I’m told…’ – Fabrizio Romano drops interesting transfer update for LFC fans as Reds miss chance to sign 17-goal star

READ MORE: Liverpool begin £61m plan to snap up yet another Man Utd target – report

Whether Liverpool, thought to be admirers of the 21-year-old, would be in that conversation remains to be seen.

We’re very much keen on Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham who will likely set back any interested party in the region of £130m, which is far from being a paltry sum on its own.

The opportunity to arrange payment plans for both midfielders could offer some hope of us completing a stunning double deal for the World Cup’s two most exciting midfielders.

It’s a possibility, though not one we can see becoming a reality for the club at the end of the season.

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The post Fabrizio Romano confirms PL rival’s talks for Liverpool target ‘collapsed’ in summer transfer boost appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Chelsea have yet to finalise an agreement with Benfica for the signing of Liverpool-linked Enzo Fernandez.

This update comes courtesy of a tweet from the reliable Fabrizio Romano amid reports that the Reds remain fully in contention for the signing of Jude Bellingham in the summer.

Understand there’s NO agreement after new meeting today between Chelsea and Benfica for Enzo Fernández. It was never a done deal, it’s not a done deal as of now. #CFC

After meetings and talks, there’s still no agreement on key details, on clause and payment terms. pic.twitter.com/HBtQEMYxP7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 4, 2023

Sam Wallace noted for The Telegraph that, despite possessing less financial firepower in the market compared to the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, the Englishman’s ‘career decisions thus far have never prioritised money’, which could be a seismic difference-maker in the Reds’ quest to add genuine quality to their midfield ranks.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on Jude Bellingham talks with honest remark

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Admittedly, it’s still early days in the January transfer window and it’s one agreement we expect our league rivals to secure by the end of the month.

Still, if there’s even a slight chance that the Argentine sensation is still available in the summer, it does raise questions about how Liverpool might choose to act at the end of the season.

Judging by our approach to the current window and Jurgen Klopp’s admission that there’s only spare change left for us to act in January, it’s possible the remainder of our kitty has been put aside ahead of our move for Bellingham down the line.

Theoretically, it may be possible to negotiate a cheaper asking price for Fernandez in the next window (a possibility Benfica will certainly be far more open to), which could have fans dreaming of a dream transfer window where we snap up two of the most exciting midfield talents in world football.

One of the pair would most certainly suffice on their own, of course.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

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There remains some debate over whether Liverpool will wind up their recruitment team once more this window for an additional signing beyond Cody Gakpo.

Should they move once again in the market, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it won’t be for Benfica’s midfield sensation Enzo Fernandez after Fabrizio Romano tweeted how far along Chelsea are in talks for the 21-year-old.

There were no direct contacts today between Chelsea and Benfica for Enzo Fernández — it will be discussed again tomorrow and next week. #CFC

The deal is advanced, but still waiting for Benfica final decision.

Chelsea are insisting as they feel deal can be closed next week. pic.twitter.com/hf32KDNNSd

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2022

That doesn’t mean that the Reds have no alternative avenues to pursue, of course, with the links between themselves and Sofyan Amrabat – dubbed a ‘beast’ by Steve Nicol on ESPN (via HITC) – remaining strong.

READ MORE: Liverpool have just repeated season-changing Luis Diaz trick with latest transfer

Indeed, if one report from Corriere dello Sport is to be taken at face value, it seems that Julian Ward could be lining up another bargain piece of business for Liverpool in the January window.

There remains a gap between what we’re prepared to pay and what Fiorentina are happy to accept at the moment, though we shouldn’t underestimate our sporting director’s powers of negotiation in light of his critical role in keeping Cody Gakpo’s price-tag down.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

The post ‘Deal is advanced…’ – Fabrizio Romano issues transfer claim as LFC ready bid for midfield ‘beast’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Enzo Fernandez is reportedly set for a Premier League switch in the winter window as Chelsea have allegedly beat out interest from both Liverpool and Manchester United.

Portuguese transfer insider Pedro Almeida tweeted that Benfica and the Blues are close to reaching a full agreement over the Argentine’s future with a deal potentially going beyond the required €120m release clause.

This follows after Ben Jacobs confirmed that the Reds had not supplied a bid to challenge their league rival’s pursuit of the World Cup winner with Giannis Chorianopoulos concurring on the matter online.

Benfica and Chelsea are in the final stages of the deal for Enzo #Fernandez, in total the player transfer could be closed for more than 130M€. Enzo has already given green light to the agent to closed the deal with the London club. #CFC pic.twitter.com/O55ZgrApQ8

— Pedro Almeida (@pedrogva6) December 31, 2022

Not true #LFC have bid. Chelsea are seriously exploring the situation but want a deal with more preferable payment terms. If they offer higher than the release clause to get this, Benfica aren’t obligated to accept. Benfica really want to keep Fernandez until at least summer.

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 29, 2022

Liverpool were pushing for Enzo Fernández, the primary target for midfielder. But his €120m. release clause was non-negotiable from Benfica even if clubs had great relationship after Nunez deal. LFC don't will to pay this amount of money @LFC #LFC #Liverpool #LiverpoolFC

— Giannis Chorianopoulos (@choria80) December 31, 2022

There’s no question that it would be a great shame to see the 21-year-old agree a move to Stamford Bridge, especially after all the dreaming on fans’ part of a midfield three containing both Jude Bellingham and Fernandez.

READ MORE: (Video) Carragher hilariously mocks Neville’s defensive demonstration with Strictly theme tune

The former on his own in the summer window would more than suffice, of course, and just to be bringing in one generational talent would represent a huge coup for us amid interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Ultimately, it seems the club will be waiting to put all its eggs in the England international’s basket, an understandable decision in light of the fact that Borussia Dortmund will likely wish to earn, quite rightly, over £100m for the 19-year-old’s signature.

Given the obvious ongoing concerns around our midfield department, we should be absolutely prepared to put our money where our mouth is.

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The post ‘Final stages of the deal’ – Portuguese transfer insider drops big update on Liverpool-linked World Cup gem’s future appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Enzo Fernandez appears destined for the Premier League if the latest batch of reports is to be believed.

With reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano now weighing in on the matter on Twitter, it seems that Liverpool could very well miss out on the World Cup winner with Chelsea firmly in the lead for his signature ahead of the January window opening.

Chelsea are now in direct talks with Benfica for Enzo Fernández. Chelsea want to offer huge fee instead of paying release clause in one solution #CFC

Benfica always asked full €120m clause.
Understand Enzo already said yes to Chelsea.#LFC or #MUFC made no bid, as of now. pic.twitter.com/Kdvz5Eargi

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022

Whether Benfica will be tempted by the Blues’ ‘huge fee’ instead of the €120m release clause attached to their star midfielder remains to be seen.

READ MORE: Nine-goal Liverpool forward confirms when he’ll back from injury – it’s good news for Jurgen Klopp

On our end, we knew that pulling off both Jude Bellingham and Fernandez would have been quite the feat – even for our star-studded recruitment team.

The possibility isn’t quite over yet, though there’s no questioning that Romano’s involvement in the story does present something of a blow to our hopes of landing a dream duo of midfield additions across the next two transfer windows.

That’s not to slight the potential individual signing of Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old sensation in any way, shape or form, of course, given the drool-worthy brilliance of the Englishman in the middle of the park.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

The post ‘Now in direct talks…’ – Fabrizio Romano drops interesting transfer update for Liverpool fans as Enzo Fernandez claim made appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Chelsea are allegedly in ‘advanced’ negotiations with Benfica over their highly-rated midfielder and reported Liverpool target Enzo Fernandez.

This update comes courtesy of ESPN’s Esteban Edul who tweeted the following (as translated by Google): “Chelsea wants Enzo Fernandez and is close to buying him and adding him right now. Negotiations are underway and advanced.”

Chelsea quiere a Enzo Fernandez y esta cerca de comprarlo y sumarlo ahora mismo. Las negociaciones están en marcha y avanzadas. pic.twitter.com/zWG3OIUa5l

— Esteban Edul (@estebanedul) December 30, 2022

The news may very well come as a blow to the Reds’ recruitment team given that it had been deemed possible for the club to afford both the Argentine World Cup winner and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

READ MORE: (Video) Watch Cody Gakpo’s first Liverpool message outside AXA training centre

It’s worth noting that the transfer is yet to be sealed in stone, of course, and the finances around the deal may yet put off any interested parties until the summer.

Fortunately, if reports are to be believed, it would seem that we have alternatives already lined up as Teradeportes claim that we’ve submitted a ‘formal offer’ for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo.

We’ll need to stump up more cash upfront to get that potential deal over the line, though it’s a promising early sign.

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The post ESPN journalist says Chelsea close to signing Liverpool target; Reds have submitted ‘formal offer’ for another midfielder appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool are reportedly not set to sign Enzo Fernandez in the current transfer window, though have yet to rule out the possibility of further additions.

This news comes from David Lynch on Twitter ahead of Cody Gakpo’s medical with the Reds (said to be taking place in the next 24-48 hours, according to Sky Sports).

Liverpool not ruling out further signings in the January transfer window but Enzo Fernandez won’t be one of them. Jude Bellingham their number one midfield target and unlikely to move before the summer.

— David Lynch (@dmlynch) December 28, 2022

The Merseysiders are understood to be particularly keen on adding a new midfielder to the club’s ranks in January with Sofyan Amrabat a possible option.

READ MORE: (Video) Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo has now arrived in England ahead of expected medical – Sky Sports

With a release clause reportedly set at €120m (£105.6m), few could blame the club for holding back ahead of the summer window where a similar – if not altogether larger – fee will be required from us should we wish to go all-out for another phenomenal young midfielder in Jude Bellingham.

Theoretically, we can afford both signings, if Mo Chatra’s understanding of the situation is completely accurate, though it’s possible we could negotiate a lower fee for the Argentine if we’re patient enough to wait until the end of the campaign.

By that point, of course, one of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and a whole range of interested suitors may have bit the bullet already for one of the globe’s most highly-rated talents.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

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The January transfer window hasn’t even opened yet and Liverpool fans are pushing for a second deal to be completed, news coming out of Portugal may well suggest that our club are doing the same.

After first confirming: ‘Enzo #Fernandez will leave Benfica in January transfer market’, Pedro Almeida has also now reported: ‘Manchester United and Liverpool reach the 120M€ that Benfica wants to sell Enzo #Fernandez. ‘.

The Portuguese insider specialised in transfers did also previously say that Cody Gakpo was going to join Manchester United but seeing as many were blindsided by our move for the Dutchman and his area of speciality being within the nation that Enzo Fernandez is currently playing – let’s hope that these words ring more true.

READ MORE: Gakpo medical set to take place as Liverpool deal nears completion – Romano

Using the PSV attacker as a benchmark too, it’s clear that moving to Anfield is a more desirable option for most players at the moment and let’s hope that we can once again pip our old rivals to another major transfer target.

The 21-year-old midfielder is hot property around the world after his performances in Qatar and so we may have to expect other teams could also reach his release clause and tempt him away from Benfica.

Quite what spending this volume of money on the Argentina international would mean to a possible Jude Bellingham deal is also unknown but it looks clear that the Reds are willing to spend big in the coming windows.

You can view the update on Fernandez via @pedrogva6 on Twitter:

Manchester United and Liverpool reach the 120M€ that Benfica wants to sell Enzo #Fernandez. #MUFC #Liverpool https://t.co/JUmxIysURm

— Pedro Almeida (@pedrogva6) December 27, 2022

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

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Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 won on Boxing Day, but despite Jurgen Klopp’s Reds winning their first Premier League match in over a month due to the World Cup in Qatar, it wasn’t the biggest story…

With fans tucking into Christmas leftovers, news broke that Liverpool were on the verge of signing PSV star Cody Gakpo.

Within the next hour, it was all but official, with PSV confirming that the 23-year-old had flown to Merseyside to do his medical and sign a contract. He should be ready to join up with his new team-mates for January 1st, just like fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk was back in 2018.

There’s so many rumours and so much speculation regarding who Liverpool want to sign, but often, deals become public and are announced within that very day, proving the ITK Twitter brigade know significantly less than they make out! Last January, Luis Diaz was linked in the morning and confirmed by the club by the evening, and his signing had a monumental impact on our brilliant run which almost culminated in a quadruple. Gakpo won’t be fighting for all four this term, but his arrival will boost our top four chances and hopefully our Champions League efforts, too.

Even Liverpool’s beat journalists, like James Pearce, Neil Jones, etc, only found out about the Gakpo deal when everyone else did. David Ornstein is the man right now when it comes to legitimate transfer news – or football news of any kind – in fact. Most of the information you get from the reporters supposedly close to the club is just a thinly-veiled summary or opinion piece. Liverpool are very careful not to break any transfer stories to English journalists until a deal is already done. So, in many ways, the best people to pay attention to in regards to transfer news are journalists from other countries, who have contacts at the selling clubs and with the potential signing, as Liverpool reveal less than nothing.

Cody Gakpo’s position 

Liverpool already have Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho; all comfortable on the left of the 4-3-3 – so we must rate Gakpo enormously to bring him into a congested area.

That being said, Gakpo played on the left for PSV, but on the right or at no.10 for Netherlands, for whom he scored three goals and starred in Qatar. His versatility will be very beneficial long-term, but right now, he’ll likely slot in on his favoured left-wing spot. Diaz is out until late March and Jota won’t play in January, meaning Gakpo has a chance to effectively make the role his own before his new team-mates return from injury.

We did experiment with a 4-4-2 earlier on in the campaign, but Klopp quickly reverted to his tried and trusted 4-3-3 shape, so with each PL match almost a must-win now, it’d be safe to assume Gakpo’s initial role will be a familiar one.

Cody Gakpo’s attributes

First thing first, Gakpo is a physical specimen. He’s 6ft.4′ and rapid. With the Darwin Nunez summer signing, it’s clear Liverpool are targeting attackers with height, incredible speed and power – and now they have another.

This term for PSV, he’s got 16 goals and 17 assists already. That’s 33 G/A involvements. Crazy numbers. Many of his goals come from cutting in off the left flank and blasting the ball with his right-foot. He shoots with immense power. Even his side-footers are thunderbolts. While Nunez’s finishing lacks composure when he has too much time right now, Gakpo shoots calmly and precisely. Seeing those two and Mo Salah up top would be mighty interesting for us and terrifying for opposition defenders.

Stylistically, and this is admittedly quite a dangerous comparison, Gakpo plays a little like Cristiano Ronaldo before he lost his legs. He’s very upright, strong and direct, with quick feet and an ability to shoot accurately and powerfully from anywhere around the 18-yard line. His number of assists though show he’s perhaps not as motivated to score himself as the former Manchester United star.

Gakpo isn’t just right-footed, either. At the World Cup, he scored with his right, left and head. Whereas Diaz for example will always cut in and shoot on his right, Gakpo has more options.

The highlight package below, showing his goals and assists, is mouthwatering.

𝙒𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃: Cody Gakpo

Nationality –
Age – 23
Position – LW
Goals – 16
Assists – 17
Club – Liverpool

Comp by @MrBoywunder
pic.twitter.com/AiPILLn0kH

— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 27, 2022

What’s next…?

Well, we need a midfielder still, right?

Gakpo means we now have six top forwards for three positions: excellent squad depth.

But with Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely leaving in the summer on the expiration of their contracts, a midfielder was probably more of a priority than an attacker in the first place.

The word online is that Liverpool might move for Enzo Fernandez next.

Portuguese reporter Pedro Almeida is claiming Liverpool and Manchester United are going head to head for the Argentine, who shone in Qatar on the biggest stage.

Manchester United and Liverpool reach the 120M€ that Benfica wants to sell Enzo #Fernandez. #MUFC #Liverpool https://t.co/JUmxIysURm

— Pedro Almeida (@pedrogva6) December 27, 2022

Liverpool will go big for Jude Bellingham in the summer, but can we really afford to pay €120m for a midfielder in January, then even more than that for the Englishman in six months’ time, all while FSG are trying to sell the club…?

It feels a little unlikely, but the team hasn’t been invested in properly for some time, so perhaps they’re going all out, like they did in the summer of 2018 when we signed Alisson and Fabinho after losing the Champions League Final.

Fernandez is the real deal. He’d be a much more exciting acquisition than Sofyan Amrabat, anyway.

And if we are going to wait until summer 2023 for Bellingham, we need a new midfielder in January.

Let’s see what happens, but the early Gakpo deal indicates serious intent from Liverpool and an understanding that the current squad needs revitalising.

It’s going to be a fun winter!

The post Editor’s Column: Cody Gakpo is a wonderfully smart signing, and it looks like a midfielder might follow as well appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool look to be about to secure a deal for Cody Gakpo in the January transfer window and Giannis Chorianopoulos reported that there was still an expectation of a midfielder to also arrive in the coming month.

Speaking exclusively with Empire of the Kop, the Greek sports journalist provided further information: ‘At the moment, as you can imagine there are rumours about midfield targets, but as I know Liverpool are moving in the market. Of course, as you know a bid does not mean a done deal or a transfer but they are in the market’.

Confirming which names are currently in the mix for a possible deal, he added: ‘Enzo Fernandez for sure but his €120m release clause is a problem but Klopp likes him a lot because of his age, potential and experience at a high level. Moises Caicedo and Sofyan Amrabat are also in. Nothing new but they are on the list for sure. And of course as you can understand they are not the only players on Klopp’s list’.

READ MORE: Liverpool fans all say the same thing as Romano reveals Gakpo transfer update

These are all certainly names that we have heard linked with a move to Anfield before and the absence of Jude Bellingham shows that a possible deal for the 19-year-old won’t be happening until the summer.

In Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Sofyan Amrabat though, Jurgen Klopp may have three players that are all attainable in the first month of 2023 but it’s not known how much money we have to spend.

With the reported £38 million being spent up front for the PSV attacker and a plotted move for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder in the summer, then we may not be able to break that bank on a huge deal.

It’s hard to know how much each player will cost but of the mentioned names above, the Moroccan may be the most likely but we may yet find out more about the other names on the manager’s list.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

The post Exclusive: The three midfield options Liverpool on ‘Klopp’s list’ for January – Chorianopoulos appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jurgen Klopp has reportedly been ‘calling every day’ to assist in the potential move for Enzo Fernandez, whom he is a big admirer of.

This comes courtesy of Football Insider with the publication claiming that the German has been active in supporting his club’s transfer efforts ahead of the January window.

This follows the understanding that Jude Bellingham will not be available for sale in the same window as the Reds look to bolster their midfield department for the second-half of the campaign.

READ MORE: Bruno Andrade reveals LFC not considering long-term contract for player as behind the scenes plans unveiled

Possessing a release clause worth €120m (£106.1m), we find it difficult to believe that the club will sanction a release of funds close to that amount as early as the winter window.

Certainly, we’d be inclined to imagine that an upfront payment close to that total figure would be required to land the World Cup winner in light of the fact that Benfica only acquired him from River Plate in the summer.

We’re expecting a deal closer to the £30-40m mark to be agreed for a signing of the calibre of a Sofyan Amrabat with much of our big business taking place in 2023.

Exclusive: Every word of our Sofyan Amrabat interview with Аnas Bakhkhar – will the Moroccan sign for the Reds?

The post Klopp just made clear who LFC’s blockbuster January target will be with latest phone calls as Bellingham unattainable – Football Insider appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.