Neil Jones has urged Liverpool not to leave themselves short on defenders by failing to bring one in before the transfer window, believing that not doing so would be ‘unforgivable’ in the context of recent years.

With Virgil van Dijk facing a suspension and Ibrahima Konate injured, Jurgen Klopp’s squad looks worryingly short on centre-back options in particular, hence speculation over a possible move for the likes of Arthur Theate in the lead-up to Friday’s deadline.

It’s led to fears of a defensive shortage similar to that which scuppered the Reds’ 2020/21 season, and Jones is imploring the club not to make the same mistake again this time around, especially after a strong start to the campaign buoyed by Sunday’s dramatic win at Newcastle.

Speaking exclusively to Empire of the Kop’s Substack, the journalist said: “It’s not like the midfield situation where you’ve got a clear idea of who they’re after or who they’ve looked at. But they have to find someone.

“I just can’t believe that they would do it again after doing it last season with the midfield, after doing it in 2020 with the defence when they left themselves one short; it would be unforgivable for Liverpool to do it again.

“It would just be undermining all the good that’s going on in the club and there is a lot of good going on. They’ve done really well with Szoboszlai, they’ve done really well with Mac Allister. We’ll see what comes of Wataru Endo.

“They’ve developed players like Curtis Jones into first-team players. There’s Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic… don’t undermine that by sitting on your hands and making out that you can’t improve the squad – you can improve the squad. It’s quite clear.”

READ MORE: Liverpool offered chance to sign £50k-p/w pass master from ‘big 6’ Premier League rivals – report

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano shares overnight update on Liverpool-linked 23y/o lined up as Salah successor

Jones is right – Liverpool need to pounce upon the feel-good factor from the Newcastle result and not leave themselves short for what’ll be an intense season with a regular diet of Thursday-Sunday scheduling due to their Europa League participation.

The setbacks to Van Dijk and Konate leave Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as our only senior centre-back options for the Aston Villa game this coming weekend (Nat Phillips has been virtually discarded given his lack of participation in the squad), and even those have been the subject of exit speculation in recent days.

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We saw in 2020/21 how our hopes of retaining the Premier League title collapsed due to a chronic sparsity of available defenders, and how stuck we were for midfield depth last term when deadline day loan signing Arthur Melo spent virtually his entire time at Anfield ruled out through injury.

The primary focus has understandably been on the middle of the park this summer after so many exits since the end of last term, but the Liverpool hierarchy can’t afford to take a chance on Klopp’s centre-back depth.

Konate, Gomez and Matip have all had their injury issues during their respective Reds careers, and it’d be risky in the extreme to bank on each of those maintaining fitness for a full campaign.

The precedents are there as warnings, so let’s hope the Anfield hierarchy heed those and get another central defender through the door while they still have the opportunity to do so.

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Arthur Theate to Liverpool? Gravenberch latest, the Caicedo transfer budget, the ‘unforgivable’ Liverpool scenario and much more!

done deal: Journalist announce record transfer fee to confirm stunning Anfield deal for world best player$190m

 

tbrfootball.com

 

Report: Liverpool have just been offered chance to sign ‘supremely gifted’ Arsenal midfielder

 

As Liverpool’s hunt for a new midfielder continues, the Reds have reportedly been offered a chance to sign Arsenal star Albert Sambi Lokonga.

 

 

 

 

Jurgen Klopp‘s side pulled off a sensational comeback win over Newcastle United on Sunday, but that victory didn’t hide the fact that they still need a new midfielder.

 

 

 

 

GFFN now claim that Lokonga has been offered to Liverpool.

 

 

 

 

Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesArsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga offered to Liverpool

 

 

 

 

Arsenal signed Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021.

 

 

 

 

The ‘supremely gifted‘ midfielder had a great start to life at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta, but like Nuno Tavares, his form fell off the cliff in the second half of the season.

 

 

 

 

Lokonga barely played in the first six months of last campaign and was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace in January this year. He produced a few good performances there, including one notably against Liverpool.

 

 

 

 

The Belgian has no future at Arsenal now, and GFFN claim that the player’s representatives have offered Liverpool a chance to sign him before the window shuts on Friday.

 

 

 

 

However, at the moment, it has been claimed that Liverpool have no plans to pursue a move to sign Lokonga in this window.

 

 

 

 

TBR View:

 

 

 

 

Offering Lokonga to Liverpool was a bold move by the player’s representatives, but why not?!

 

 

 

 

The Reds are in desperate need of a new midfielder before the end of the transfer window, and it doesn’t look like any of their moves are progressing quickly.

 

 

 

 

Despite a difficult 18 months, Lokonga is a very talented young midfielder, who has been compared to Yaya Toure by four-time Premier League winner and current Burnley boss Vincent Kompany. His potential is huge, but he needs a manager to bring it out of him.

 

 

 

 

Klopp can definitely do that, but we just can’t see Liverpool even considering a move to sign the Arsenal man in the coming days.

 

Related Topics

 

mirror.co.uk

 

Liverpool transfer round-up: Salah warned over ‘scandalous’ move as Van Dijk ban demand made

 

The euphoria around Liverpool’s dramatic comeback win at Newcastle on Sunday has been tempered by mounting speculation that Mo Salah is set to move to Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

 

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Football Digest: Liverpool pick up huge win at Newcastle

 

 

 

 

The next few days could be critical for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as he looks to bring in more reinforcements before Friday’s 11pm deadline.

 

 

 

 

Having missed out on a number of key targets this summer, the German boss finally added to the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this month when he captured midfielder Wataru Endo from Schalke. But his squad still looks light following a number of high-profile departures.

 

 

 

 

Links to Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat continue, with the Reds seemingly competing with Man United to sign both players. And Klopp also has a headache that’s set to go beyond Friday, with rumours surrounding Mo Salah’s potential move to Saudi Arabia gathering pace.

 

 

 

 

Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest transfer news and gossip from Anfield.

 

 

 

 

Salah told a Saudi switch would be ‘scandalous’

 

 

 

 

BT Sport Chris Sutton has claimed it would be a ‘scandalous’ decision from Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad this summer.

 

 

 

 

The Saudi Arabian club are ready to offer the forward a deal that would eclipse the £173million-per-year salary of Cristian Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has so far dismissed rumours Salah could be leaving, while the player’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa has insisted the Egyptian star “remains committed to LFC.”

 

 

 

 

“We’re a couple of days now to the end of the window. I think that would be scandalous if Mo Salah decided to leave and leave Liverpool in the lurch,” said Sutton. “Now, if this was a deal which was in the pipeline a month, five, six weeks ago, do you know what? I’d understand it.”

 

 

 

 

Read the full story here

 

 

 

 

Saudi champions Al-Ittihad want Mo Salah

 

 

 

 

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Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

FA advised to lengthen Van Dijk ban

 

 

 

 

The FA have been urged to hit Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk with a four match ban for his “unacceptable behaviour” following his red card against Newcastle.

 

 

 

 

Former referee Mark Halsey has argued authorities should now make an example of the Dutchman after he reacted angrily to the decision of John Brooks: “Football must not tolerate any more abuse of match officials. So the Football Association has to clamp down and punish Virgil Van Dijk for his unacceptable behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday,” he told The Sun.

 

 

 

 

“Van Dijk will rightly receive a one-match ban for the straight red card but I believe his suspension should be increased. The abusive and insulting language used by the new Reds leader could be worthy of another RED CARD and result in an additional three-match ban.”

 

 

 

 

Read the full story here

 

 

 

 

Virgil van Dijk has been told he deserves a four-game ban for Newcastle United red card

 

 

 

 

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Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Origi nears Premier League return

 

 

 

 

Former Liverpool striker Divock Origi is set to leave Milan this week after just one season with Burnley among the favourites to sign him.

 

 

 

 

Foot Mercato have reported that the Clarets coiuld offer the striker a surprise opportunity to return to the Premier League. Manager Vincent Kompany played alongside Origi at international level and is thought to be keen on a deal.

 

 

 

 

Klopp has previously voiced his surprise that the Belgian forward hasn’t been targeted by fellow English clubs: “If I was at another team I would have gone for him,” he said, when the 28-year-old was still at Anfield. Just because you are not playing for Liverpool does not mean you are not good. Top striker and a top boy. He has already scored some of the most important goals in the history of this club.”

 

 

 

 

Read the full story here.

 

 

 

 

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anfieldwatch.co.uk

 

Liverpool transfer news roundup: Thuram interest revived, Gomez wanted, Palacios named

 

It’s Wednesday. It rumours time. You know the drill. Here’s today’s roundup of the latest Liverpool transfer gossip.

 

 

 

 

Anfield Watch understands that Nice guy Khephren Thuram is back on the shortlist for Liverpool as Deadline Day approaches and the club continue their midfielder search. Read the full story here.

 

 

 

 

The latter half of the window’s main character Ryan Gravenberch could be the subject of a push from Liverpool before 1 September. He remains unhappy at Bayern, says Florian Plettenberg.

 

 

 

 

Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios has been name-checked as a player of interest for the Reds by the Athletic.

 

 

 

 

Another midfielder of interest could be Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, according to the Independent. Although, I feel like we’ve moving into the territory of just naming footballers now.

 

 

 

 

Fabrizio Romano reports that Joe Gomez is ‘very high’ on Al Ittihad’s defender wish list this summer. Haven’t they done enough damage already?

 

 

 

 

Elsewhere, the Times claim that Gomez is also the subject of interest from West Ham.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, L’Equipe say that Rennes could turn to Joel Matip if Liverpool-linked Arthur Theate leaves this summer. Swap deal anyone?

 

 

 

 

READ MORE: How would Liverpool transfer target Arthur Theate fit in at Anfield?

 

 

 

 

L’Equipe also report that Liverpool youngster Billy Koumetio will join Dunkerque in Ligue 2 on loan for the season.

 

 

 

 

Burnley are among the clubs interested in Reds legend Divock Origi with AC Milan keen to move the loveable Belgian on, according to Foot Mercato.

 

 

 

 

And finally, Liverpool Women could be about to pull off a coup with the signing of World Cup Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa. Read more here.

 

liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

Liverpool transfer news LIVE – Ryan Gravenberch future, Mohamed Salah claim, Darwin Nunez reaction

 

Hello and welcome to our LIVE Liverpool transfer blog for Monday, August 28.

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned as we bring you all the reaction from that dramatic, last-gasp victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. Darwin Nunez scored twice as Liverpool came from behind to beat the Magpies despite the first half sending off of Virgil van Dijk and goal from Anthony Gordon.

 

 

 

 

There are also updates on Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield, while Ryan Gravenberch is also said to be considering his future at Bayern Munich ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

 

 

 

 

Send your views to @LivEchoLFC and don’t forget to subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red Podcast – with all your favourite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Tom Cavilla, Keifer MacDonald and more.

 

 

 

 

The Liverpool ECHO has launched its own WhatsApp community to bring you the very latest LFC transfer news and top stories direct to your phone. By joining our WhatsApp community, you will receive breaking news and top stories straight to your phone. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in. If you are using your computer, tablet or an additional phone you can use your mobile phone to join the group below. Just scan your camera over the QR code and open the link. For further information, click here.

 

 

 

 

Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Liverpool FC transfer rumours below.

 

 

 

 

Keifer MacDonald

 

 

 

 

Ryan Gravenberch opens up on Bayern Munich future amid Liverpool interest

 

 

 

 

The Dutchman is yet to start a game for Bayern Munich this season and with links to Liverpool and Manchester United in the final days of the summer transfer window, Gravenberch said: “I don‘t know what will happen in the next days.”

 

 

 

 

Would a move for a multi-functional midfielder like Gravenberch serve Liverpool well, Reds?

 

 

 

 

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Keifer MacDonald

 

 

 

 

Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool: Your ECHO round up

 

 

 

 

How do you even begin to explain THOSE scenes at St James’ Park last night, then?

 

 

 

 

Ian Doyle, Paul Gorst, and the rest of the ECHO Sport team have you covered with a round-up of Sunday’s action.

 

 

 

 

Ratings, analysis and interviews, grab yourself a Bank Holiday brew and indludge in a famous Liverpool victory.

 

 

 

 

Player ratings – Liverpool player ratings as Darwin Nunez just perfect but four others excellent

 

 

 

 

Analysis – Nunez gives Liverpool lift off as Newcastle legend reacts and Tindall silenced

 

 

 

 

Darwin Nunez love-in – Gary Lineker agrees with Liverpool supporters about Darwin Nunez

 

 

 

 

VAR explainer – Why VAR did not overturn VVD red as last man rule explained

 

 

 

 

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the winning goal making the score 1-2 during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park on August 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Keifer MacDonald

 

 

 

 

Get your Liverpool home shirt!

 

 

 

 

If you want to look as cool as Darwin Nunez did at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, use the link below to get your 2023/24 Liverpool kit.

 

 

 

 

Keifer MacDonald

 

 

 

 

Good morning, Reds!

 

 

 

 

Hello and welcome to our LIVE Liverpool transfer blog for Monday, August 28.

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned as we bring you all the reaction from that dramatic, last-gasp victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. There are also updates on Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield, while Ryan Gravenberch is also said to be considering his future at Bayern Munich ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

 

 

 

 

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park on August 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)