Liverpool Transfer News LIVE updates: Van Dijk to Arsenal, Coutinho latest, Ox update

Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Follow below for updates
on the latest moves at Anfield
Friday August 25
Coutinho mood low
14.00: Philippe Coutinho still hopes to seal a move to
Barcelona this summer, according to Sky Sports
presenter Kaveh Solhekol.
Coutinho handed in a transfer request two weeks ago
following a £90m bid from Barcelona.
Liverpool have maintained their stance that he will not
be sold and are set to reject the fourth bid of £138m.
And Barcelona have now moved on to seal the
Ousmane Dembele deal and he is expected to be
announced as a Barcelona player this weekend.
But Coutinho hopes that that isn’t the end of his
dream to play for the club this season.
“Coutinho hoping Barcelona signing Dembele doesn't
mean they're giving up on him,” Solhekol tweeted
today.
“Still wants Barcelona move. Told his "mood is very
low"
Klopp wants more deals
12.30: Jurgen Klopp is still working on last minute
transfers but says he is happy with his squad as it is.
Liverpool have signed three players this summer with
Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Andrew
Robertson coming in.
But deals for top targets Naby Keita and Virgl Van Dijk
have proven difficult to get over the line.
And now Klopp is also dealing with Barcelona’s
interest in Philippe Coutinho.
“If and I said it a few times, the transfer window
closes tomorrow, I am happy with it,” Klopp said.
“We work on it, as you can imagine. But this transfer
window is different to all other transfer windows.”
Klopp's Barca demands
10:00: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has requested
Barcelona give him Sergi Roberto or Ivan Rakitic if
they want to sign Philippe Coutinho.
And Spanish publication Diario Gol claim Jurgen Klopp
will not give up his star man without getting a player in
return.
The likes of Rafinha, Arda Turan and Andre Gomes are
all said to have been offered to the Reds as part of a
deal for Coutinho but the German boss is not
interested.
Instead, Diario Gol claim Klopp wants Rakitic or
Roberto.
Marseille want Origi
09:00: Marseille are considering a swoop for Liverpool
forward Divock Origi, reports claim.
It’s believed Origi, 22, is fearful of losing his place in
Belgium’s World Cup squad having been reduced to a
bit-part player at Anfield.
And he’s seriously considering his options.
According to Marseille Mercato, Origi is firmly on the
Ligue 1 club’s radar with a bid worth £13.8million
expected in the coming days.
Coutinho still on Barca radar
08.00: Philippe Coutinho remains on Barcelona’s radar
even though they have agreed to pay £138million for
Borussia Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele.
Liverpool are desperate to keep Coutinho and have
rejected Barca’s third bid of £118m for the Brazilian.
Dortmund yesterday accepted Barca’s big-money offer
for their attacking gem Dembele, who had gone on
strike in the hope of securing a move to the Nou
Camp.
There were claims suggesting Dembele’s arrival as a
replacement for Neymar would end Barca’s interest in
Coutinho.
But Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo report that is
not the case.
In fact, Barca are now ready to push hard to land
Coutinho with just seven days of the transfer window
remaining.
Aquilani on the move
07.00: Alberto Aquilani is set to sign for Las Palmas.
The former Liverpool midfielder, now 33, will leave
Sassuolo on a free after and sign a two-year deal.
Aquilani struggled at Liverpool after moving for around
£20m and was hampered by injuries and
homesickness.
Arsenal put through their
paces ahead of Liverpool trip
Thu, August 24, 2017
Express Sport brings you all the best snaps as
Arsenal train ahead of their trip to Liverpool on
Sunday
PLAY
Big smiles from Alexis Sanchez [Arsenal FC via
Getty Images]
ARSENAL FC VIA GETTY IMAGES 1 of 11
Benedikt Howedes blow
03:15: Benedikt Howedes looks set to join Juventus
instead of Liverpool, according to the club’s chief
executive Giuseppe Marotta.
Howedes knows Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip well
from their days spent together at Schalke.
But Marotta has confirmed Howedes is a serious target
for the Bianconeri.
“We are looking for a defender who may play both to
the centre and as wing-back," he said.
"Howedes is an option. Actually, he's a little more than
an option.”
Liverpool Ox hunt
01:00: Arsenal could be forced to sell Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain before the transfer window closes, with
the player reportedly set to reject their latest contract
offer.
The 24-year-old is currently out of contract at the end
of the season along with team-mates Mesut Ozil and
Alexis Sanchez.
Chelsea are eager to land him before next Thursday's
11pm deadline and the club are considering raising
their offer to £35million in order to land the England
international.
And according to the Daily Mail, a new contract offer
by the Gunners worth £180,000 a week has been
proposed to Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he is set to
rebuff it.
Liverpool, the report adds, are still in the hunt with
Jurgen Klopp a long-term admirer.
Thursday August 24
Coutinho power play
21:30: Philippe Coutinho may release a statement or
give an interview in order to seal his transfer from
Liverpool to Barcelona.
“Philippe Coutinho’s heart remains set on a move to
Barcelona but Liverpool will not budge,” reporter
Dharmesh Sheth said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Centr e
this evening.
“It is thought Barca will go back in with a bid worth
£138m but Liverpool are expected to stand firm.
“One option that has been discussed is for Coutinho to
release a statement or give an interview making it
clear he wants to leave.
“The hope is to put pressure on Liverpool to sell. Good
luck.”
Pique talks Coutinho and Dembele
19:42: Gerard Pique believes Liverpool star Philippe
Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele
are both doing everything they can to join Barcelona.
“I think players still want to join Barcelona, and they
are showing that as is the case with Coutinho and
Ousmane Dembele,” Pique told the Daily Mail.
“One by putting in a transfer request and the other
with his actions at Dortmund.
“It suggests that they are both delighted about the
idea of coming; they want to come.”
Gerard Pique believes Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane
Dembele want to join Barcelona
Coutinho staying put
18:07: Liverpool will not sell Philippe Coutinho to
Barcelona even for £150million, according to Sky
Sports presenter Kaveh Solhekol
“We’ve been told Liverpool would not even sell him for
£150million,” he said. “Liverpool are standing firm.”
Rafinha won't join Liverpool
16:16: Rafinha has agreed to leave Barcelona - but he
isn’t heading to Liverpool.
Calciomercato claim Liverpool, as well as Arsenal,
want to sign Rafinha.
But reports in Italy claim the player has agreed in
principle to move to AC Milan.
Milan now have to work with Barcelona over a fee for
the player.
Reds 'can afford' Van Dijk and Coutinho
14.30: Liverpool can afford to sign a central defender
AND keep Philippe Coutinho at the club beyond the
transfer window, according to Reds legend and pundit
Steve Nicol.
Liverpool maintain they will not sell Coutinho to
Barcelona before the window shuts a week today.
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is a long-term
target of manager Jurgen Klopp and Nicol firmly
believes his former side can afford the Dutchman and
keep Coutinho.
“Liverpool have money, forget Coutinho, forget there
was ever any money offered for Coutinho,” he said on
ESPN FC.
“That shouldn’t and wouldn’t have stopped Liverpool
going and buying a defender if they saw one, if there
was one they wanted.
“According to them nobody other than Van Dijk. They
obviously want him.”
Klopp told to sign three more
14:00: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been told he
needs to buy three more players before the transfer
window shuts a week today by former Arsenal
midfielder Adrian Clarke.
Clarke believes Klopp needs to bring in a new
defensive midfielder and a goalkeeper, as well as
replacing centre-back Dejan Lovren.
“Dejan Lovren, again a mistake for a goal. I think his
place has got to be in jeopardy,” he said on
talkSPORT.
“For me they need a centre-half, probably a defensive
midfielder and still a goalie in my opinion.
“But we will wait and see on that.”
Liverpool Transfer News: Arsenal are thought to have
spoken with Virgil van Dijk
Two more signings - Gerrard
13.20: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp should look to sign
a defender and a central midfielder before the transfer
window shuts a week today, according to former Reds
captain Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool have been linked with the likes of
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, who Gerrard has
previously claimed would be a great signing.
But he refused to name who he would like to join,
saying: “I don’t want to name any names, not naming
names.
“Maybe one in defence and maybe a centre midfielder
as well just to give you two good players in every
position.”
Parlour: Offer Sakho for VVD!
13:10: Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour reckons
Liverpool should offer Mamadou Sakho to Southampton
as part of a deal to sign Virgil van Dijk.
“You look at the situation, Sakho went to Crystal
Palace last year. He’s a defender who you could
maybe throw in (to a deal),” Parlour said on
talkSPORT.
“You could say ‘Saints we could have a swap deal’,
Sakho for Van Dijk with a bit of money on top.
“This week there will be so may deals go through
because people start panicking.
“Plenty of clubs want their business done early but
others do it at the last minute. People give in. Selling
players and bidding for players."
Sakho not VVD - Allardyce
13.05: Liverpool already have the answer to their
defensive problems at the club, according to former
England boss Sam Allardyce.
Liverpool have been on the market for a new defender
throughout the summer, with Southampton’s Virgil van
Dijk the No 1 target.
But Allardyce does not think they need the Dutchman
and in Mamadou Sakho they have a player who can
help out their leaky defence.
“Your first job is defending, get the ball and keep it
simple,” Allardyce said on talkSPORT.
“It’s very effective and Mama is very effective because
he can get it down and play simple, play it into
midfield.”
'Van Dijk in talks with Arsenal' claim
12:30: Arsenal have met Virgil van Dijk to discuss a
switch to the Emirates, it’s been claimed today.
James Dodd, a journalist from Fox Sports News, says
conversations have been held between Arsenal, Van
Dijk and his representatives over a possible move.
Dodd, who follows Arsenal, tweeted: “#AFC have met
with Van Dijk & his reps but I'm fairly sure all the big
PL clubs have. I guess Saints would rather sell to us
than Liverpool.”
The news will be a hammer blow to Liverpool who
have been chasing the Dutchman all summer.
Liverpool transfers: Which
stars are most likely to sign?
Mon, August 21, 2017
Which stars are most likely to sign for Liverpool in
the summer transfer window according to Football
Whispers (1 = less likely, 5 = most likely)
PLAY
Which players are most likely to sign for Liverpool
this summer? [Liverpool FC via Getty Images]
LIVERPOOL FC VIA GETTY IMAGES 1 of 11
Wenger: Arsenal MUST keep Ox
11:45: Liverpool and Chelsea have suffered a KO blow
in their pursuit of Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain.
Premier League champions Chelsea are believed to be
the front-runners in the battle for his services, and will
reportedly submit a £35million offer later this week.
But Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep
Oxlade-Chamberlain at the Emirates.
Asked whether Oxlade-Chamberlain has told him he
wants to stay at the Emirates, Wenger said: “I want
him to stay and be one of the big players of the future
of this club.
“He is one of the players this team has to be built
around in the future. Personally I want him to commit
to the club and to be one of the carrier of the values
of our team.
“I want to keep my best players. I only have one
target: to keep everybody on board. I think we invested
a lot of time, confidence and money on players like
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who we bought at a young
age.
“For me, they have a responsibility for the future of
this club because Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be one
of the big English players in the coming years. I
personally am highly determined to keep him here at
the club and I hope he will commit.”
Champions League: Who could Liverpool
draw?
11:00: Liverpool will discover their Champions League
opponents in Monaco today. Below is a list of their
possible opponents.
Seeds: Real Madrid, Bayern, Juventus, Benfica,
Shakhtar Donetsk, Monaco, Spartak Moscow
Pot two: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, PSG, Borussia
Dortmund, Sevilla, Porto
Pot four: Celtic, CSKA Moscow, Sporting, APOEL,
Feyenoord, Maribor, Qarabag, RB Leipzig
Wenger unsure whether Barca want Coutinho
10:00: Arsene Wenger isn’t sure whether Barcelona
want Philippe Coutinho.
The Arsenal boss was asked about Coutinho’s situation
today with Barca having had three bids rejected by
Liverpool.
Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, which
Liverpool have knocked back, and his future remains
up in the air with seven days left until the end of the
transfer window.
But Wenger said: “I don’t know where he stands with
Liverpool or they stand with him.
“I’m not even sure Barcelona are in for him, I don’t
know."
Coutinho talks today
09:00: Barcelona representatives will hold talks with
Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in Monaco, reports
claim.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo,
Barca officials are using today’s Champions League
draw to discuss a double swoop for Ousmane Dembele
and Philippe Coutinho.
The newspaper have pictures of the attacking duo on
their front page, along with the headline: “Double
meeting”.
Naby Keita holds a Liverpool shirt in a Photshopped
Twitter picture
Coutinho to go public
08:00: Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho is poised
to make a public statement in a bid to force through a
move to Barcelona, reports claim.
The Reds have rejected three separate offers for their
Brazilian magician, with the latest worth £118million
also declined.
But now, according to Yahoo Sport, Coutinho will go
public with his dissatisfaction to force Liverpool to
sell.
A source close to Coutinho told Yahoo Sport: “Coutinho
is willing to say that Liverpool is making his life
miserable and that he wants to leave.
“He has been very patient, but at the end of the day it
is his option as a player to leave the club – and he
wants to do exactly that.”
Keita & van Dijk Photoshop excitement
07:45: There’s been some Photoshop wizardry going
on at Anfield folks.
Some scarily realistic pictures of Naby Keita and Virgil
van Dijk holding Liverpool shirts circulated on Twitter
last night.
The mocked-up images were released after Liverpool’s
emphatic Champions League victory over Hoffenheim
last night.
Keita is seen smiling and holding a number 8 shirt with
his name on the back in front of Liverpool advertising
boards.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, holds the number 4 aloft with his
first name - 'Virgil' - written on the back.
Virgil van Dijk smiles in a mocked up pic circulating on
Twitter
Klopp wants Ox
07:30: Liverpool remain interested in signing Arsenal
star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
That’s according to the Liverpool Echo’s James
Pearce, who revealed Jurgen Klopp “defiantly” wants
the 24-year-old contract rebel.
Speaking on The Redmen TV, Pearce said: "They
definitely still want him, if they could get him.
"I think the problem is, they did make an approach to
Arsenal, probably was around the start of pre-season.
But they were told then: ‘Forget it, he’s not going
anywhere.’
"We don’t know whether Arsenal are going to keep to
that stance or, the closer we get to next Thursday,
whether suddenly they’ll get itchy feet and think they
do have to listen to offers rather than risk losing those
players for nothing the following summer."

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