Liverpool transfer news: Virgil van Dijk picks Jurgen Klopp

Southampton defender snubs Man City and Chelsea to work with Anfield boss - all the latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip

Virgil van Dijk, Southampton
 
(Image credit: Glyn Kirk / AFP / Getty)

Liverpool transfer news: Michael Keane in, Daniel Sturridge out

24 April

Liverpool are in "pole position" to sign Burnley defender Michael Keane in a £30m deal this summer, reports The Sun.

According to the red top, Manager Jurgen Klopp, desperate to bolster his leaky back four, has joined the race to sign the England centre-back, who came through the ranks at Manchester United and had been tipped to join Everton before Liverpool muscled their way to the front of the queue.

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"Burnley are resigned to losing their star man in the summer as big clubs circle around the centre-back. He only has one season left on his current deal but will still command a huge fee on the current market," says the paper. "Manchester United will get 25 per cent of any deal as part of the terms of his permanent move to Turf Moor two years ago."

Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge's time at Liverpool appears to have come to a suitably fitting end, with injury expected to rule him out of the rest of the season.

A recurring hip injury, which kept him out for two months earlier in the campaign, saw the 27-year-old England striker pull out of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace and he is now a doubt for the final four games of the season.

"As has often been the case with the striker’s catalogue of problems, the club’s staff do not know if it will be days or weeks before the player considers himself fit for selection," says the Daily Telegraph. "Sturridge’s Liverpool future has been clouded in uncertainty since last year, his poor appearance record making it inevitable a sizeable summer bid for him will be considered."

Sturridge has started only five league games this season and he has been "blighted by fitness problems", says The Guardian, adding that Klopp prefers a front three of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

"Sturridge is likely to be allowed to leave Liverpool at the end of this season and could therefore have played his final game should he require another lengthy recovery period," says the paper.

Liverpool transfer news: Daniel Sturridge considers West Ham move

24 April

The love affair between Liverpool and Daniel Sturridge could be nearing the end of its shelf life with The Sun reporting that the England striker "is ready to listen to offers from West Ham this summer".

The future of Sturridge has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks and it's believed that Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is preparing what the Sun describes as a "summer swoop" for the 27-year-old.

The injury-prone Liverpool frontman has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp's stewardship, and he last started a Premier League game for the Reds in November.

The Sun says sources close to Sturridge have told them that a move to West Ham "could be an option come the end of the season".

Meanwhile the paper says that Klopp will likely use the money made on the striker to launch an "ambitious" bid for Southampton's Ryan Bertrand. The 27-year-old left-back is on the radar of several clubs but with that position having been a source of anxiety for the German gaffer for the whole of the season, the Sun says he will do what it takes to win Bertrand's signature.

Liverpool transfer news: Joe Hart is 'good, but not for us', says Klopp

It's a "nein" from Jurgen Klopp as far as Joe Hart joining Liverpool goes, reports ESPN.

It was reported on Wednesday that Liverpool were poised to table a £20m bid to bring the goalkeeper back to England after his spell on loan with Torino.

Deemed "surplus to requirements" by his parent club, Manchester City, Hart was apparently too pricey for the Italian side to keep hold off on a permanent basis.

That led to the Liverpool link, but the team's German manager slapped aside the gossip of recent days.

He said: "We have the highest quality goalkeepers already so he is not for us - not in the moment and hopefully not in the future."

"That's not because of Joe," Klopp added. "He is a fantastic goalkeeper - the goalkeeper of the England national team - so he is of the highest quality."

There does, however, appear to be concrete interest from the Reds for Lyon marksman Alexandre Lacazette, with the Daily Mirror saying Anfield is "ready to tempt" the Gallic goal machine to sign for them with an eye-watering offer.

The 25-year-old has set Ligue 1 alight in recent seasons and already has 24 goals in the bank this term. He was strongly linked to Arsenal, but it seems Klopp is ready to outbid the Gunners come what may.

French broadcaster RMC claims Liverpool "have been long-term admirers of Lacazette" and are ready to meet any asking price.

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp insists on Insigne

19 April

The Daily Star claims that Liverpool have not given up hope of luring Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne to Anfield.

It has been rumoured of late that the 25-year-old striker, who's scored 14 goals this season in Serie A, is close to agreeing a new deal with Napoli, but the Star says that Jurgen Klopp remains optimistic that he can persuade Insigne to sign for Liverpool in the summer.

Meanwhile a meeting is planned between officials from Liverpool and Hertha Berlin to discuss the future of Allan Rodrigues de Souza.

The Daily Express says that Allan, who arrived at Anfield in 2015 from Brazilian outfit Internacional in a £500,000 deal, is still unable to obtain a work permit to play in the Premier League.

Farmed out on loan to Sint-Truiden of Belgium last season, De Souza joined German side Hertha Berlin on loan this year and apparently they are "keen to keep him beyond this summer".

Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp to offer £50m for Saints star Virgil van Dijk?

18 April

Southampton are bracing themselves for the departure to Anfield of Virgil van Dijk, according to Metro.

The paper claims that Saints have targeted Leeds’ Sweden international Pontus Jansson as a replacement for the Dutch defender, who has in recent weeks been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp has reportedly had his eye on Van Dijk for months and the Liverpool boss is "weighing up a £50m bid" as part of his strategy to bolster his back four in the summer.

It won't be the first time that Southampton have seen one of their prize assets head north to Merseyside, with Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane all having left for Liverpool in recent seasons.

Liverpool transfer news: £35m bid to land Oxlade-Chamberlain

13 April

With Arsenal's season crumbling like a stale hot cross bun it's no surprise to read that another of their stars could be on his way out of the Emirates in a matter of weeks.

This time the player in question is midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with website Caughtoffside.com reporting that Liverpool are preparing to empty their piggy bank in order to land the 23-year-old.

It's believed that the Reds will have to stump up £35m if they're to land the Ox, which would equal their club record transfer fee - which was rather unwisely spent on forward Andy Carroll in 2011.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has just over 12 months left to run on his current contract and although the Gunners are reluctant to sell, it's claimed that the player himself wants a fresh start after becoming frustrated at the number of times he starts matches on the bench.

Caughtoffside reports that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp "hopes to take advantage of the player's frustration" by tabling a bid that will result in the Ox migrating north.

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