Liverpool needs a few new players this summer and so the rumor mill is in full swing. Some of the links — with Alexis Mac Allister, for instance — are genuine, while others are more speculative.

Regardless of who it is that Jürgen Klopp brings in, Liverpool has had an end to the season that should inspire some optimism heading into the new campaign, with the new faces set to supplement that even further.

Liverpool is looking for new bodies in midfield, particularly in the more attacking and creative areas, and it is also prepared to make a signing in defense with Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip both over 30 and the latter’s contract only having 12 months left to run.

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Signing a defender could be particularly important as Liverpool seeks to avoid the situation that it found with its midfield this summer, needing this time to proactively get ahead of future issues before they arise.

The ideal summer transfer window would see Liverpool bring in at least two players in the center of the pitch and one at the back, so with that in mind, here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.

Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP)

Liverpool has been linked with a move for Sporting holding midfielder Manuel Ugarte on and off for a few months, and those links have resurfaced again today amid interest from PSG.

Le Parisien (translated by Sport Witness) reports that while PSG is prepared to meet Ugarte’s $64m (£52m/€60m) release clause, Liverpool is also ‘ready’ to match the clause. Chelsea — because, of course, Todd Boehly does not have enough players already — is also mentioned as a possible destination.

Liverpool.com says: Links with Ugarte have had a similar feel to Matheus Nunes last summer and Otávio at Porto before that, in that they have always been played down, but refuse to go away. There is certainly a player there in the 22-year-old Uruguayan, but there are other priorities for the Reds, at least for the time being.

Perr Schuurs (Torino)

Liverpool, alongside both Manchester United and PSG, is ready to submit a $32m (£26m/€30m) offer to sign Torino defender Perr Schuurs, according to Tuttosport (print edition via FC Inter News).

Signed last summer from Ajax, Schuurs has been one of the best defenders in Italy this season and Liverpool is on the search for players in that position as a potential replacement for Joël Matip.

Schuurs was also said (via the ECHO) to be on Liverpool’s list of options for January 2021, before it opted to instead wait for Ibrahima Konaté and signed Ben Davies on loan.

Liverpool.com says: Schuurs is clearly a talented player and at 23, he could be the right age for Liverpool to target. Whether he has the right ceiling for the Reds or not remains to be seen, but it sounds like he won’t be at Torino for long.

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