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Record–Liverpool advance, will submit first offer to sign£52.2million player

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Record–Liverpool advance, will submit first offer to sign£52.2million player

Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders and the latest name in the limelight is that of Manuel Ugarte.

As per today’s version of Record (news image provided below), Liverpool are advancing to secure the singing of the Uruguayan international in the summer.

News – Liverpool have asked conditions to sign £60million star for next season – Report

The Portuguese news source have mentioned that the Meseysiders will meet the representatives of Sporting CP this week and will submit their first offer to sign Ugarte.

It is reported that the player has been on the radar at Anfield for a long time. He is a “profitable asset” and can be sold by the Lions to improve the accounts.

Manager, Ruben Amorim, is hoping to hold on to the 22-year-old defensive midfielder for the next campaign.

The youngster’s current deal at with the Liga Nos side will expire in 2026 and yesterday, Record revealed that a fee close to the £52.2million clause will be needed to secure his signature.

Ugarte only started 10 games in the last season for Sporting but was a key player in their Allianz Cup victory.

This season, the South American play breaker has been a regular starter and so far, he has made 45 appearances.

At Liverpool, Fabinho is the main holding midfield star, who has been highly inconsistent in the current campaign.

The Reds do need a young DM but in all fairness, they must sign someone who can contribute in the attacking third as well. Like Fabinho, Ugarte has not netted a single goal this season.

Have your say – Who should Liverpool bring in to reinforce the No. 6 position?

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Report: 34-year-old is high on Liverpool’s list of summer targets, he’s already worked with Jorg Schmadtke

Liverpool have placed Hannover 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler towards the top of their summer shortlist.

The Reds are set to search for some new ‘keepers in the coming months, with doubt over the futures of both Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher. While the former is out of contract, the latter looks ready to push for a starting spot elsewhere.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp could even need to add two new goalies to serve as back-up to Alisson Becker. With that in mind, Bild report that veteran German stopper Zieler is ‘high up’ on Liverpool’s list of options.

Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

It’s claimed that a move to Anfield would be ‘financially appealing’ for the 34-year-old, who has previously worked under the Reds’ incoming sporting director Jorg Schmadtke. Schmadtke was the boss at Hannover when Zieler was signed from Manchester United back in 2010. With the 59-year-old now seemingly on the verge of joining Liverpool, his old charge could follow him once again.

Zieler signed a contract extension for an extra year at Hannover back in March. However, the World Cup winner is said to have been disappointed not to have earned a longer extension. His current deal will expire in 2024.

Liverpool set to target new ‘keepers

Some Liverpool fans are likely to feel short-changed by this transfer news. Bringing in a back-up goalkeeper will hardly be the most glamourous move the Reds make this summer. Despite that, it looks likely to be a hole that Jurgen Klopp badly needs to fill.

Kelleher is now reportedly attracting Premier League interest. The Irishman has been as good-a No.2 as Liverpool have had in years, but they shouldn’t stand in his way if a good offer arrives.

Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images

As for Adrian, there may be some sense in keeping him around for another year, but it doesn’t look as though that will happen. Consequently, Liverpool have some work to do.

With Alisson unquestionably the first choice, it’s a tricky position for Klopp to fill. Whoever comes in will likely play no more than 10 or 12 games all season. Although, it’s worth pointing out that Jurgen could rotate Ali out if Liverpool do end up in the Europa League in 2023/24.

Whether the manager decides to do that or not could depend on the quality of those brought in. In Zieler’s case, he does have some pedigree. Having been a Bundesliga ‘keeper of decent repute, he was the third-choice for Germany’s successful World Cup campaign in 2014.

On the flip-side of that, he’s also had failed spells in England at United, and also as back-up to Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester City. If he’s Adrian’s replacement, fair enough, but you feel Liverpool may need a little more to fill Kelleher’s gloves.

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Liverpool close to sporting director appointment with contract linked to Jurgen Klopp’s

Julian Ward announced he will step down as Premier League club Liverpool’s sporting director at the end of this season… leaving a desirable vacancy on Merseyside

Jorg Schmadtke is set to become Liverpool’s new sporting director (

Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool have moved a step closer to appointing Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director after receiving Jurgen Klopp’s seal of approval.

Liverpool’s current sporting director Julian Ward will step down from his position this summer, just a year after succeeding the hugely successful Michael Edwards in the role. The club’s hierarchy are keen to fill the vacancy before the transfer window re-opens.

If talks continue to progress as expected, Schmadtke will sign a contract until June 2026, with Klopp’s contract expiring in the same month. The Liverpool boss is believed to be an admirer of Schmadtke, who is a well-respected figure in German football.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Liverpool’s hierarchy will enter advanced negotiations with Schmadtke shortly. News of the 59-year-old’s appointment is now expected imminently, with the transfer window re-opening in just under two months’ time.

This summer will be crucial to Liverpool’s hopes of success next season. Klopp’s side are fifth in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester United in fourth having played a game more, and could miss out on Champions League football next term.

Klopp’s squad needs to be revamped to make them successful again. Liverpool’s form this season has come as a shock after winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – among other honours – in recent years.

Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Schmadtke’s work

Who do you think Liverpool should sign this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Liverpool have considered a number of candidates for the role, including Monaco’s Paul Mitchell. Ward, who had been linked with a similar job at Ajax, announced his desire to leave Anfield in November. He was Edwards’ deputy before stepping up into the role.

If a deal can be agreed, Schmadtke will work alongside long-serving employees Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter in Liverpool’s recruitment team. The priority will be to sign a new central midfielder, with Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister on their shortlist.

Schmadtke pursued a career as a football executive after playing for Fortuna Dusseldorf, Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach as a goalkeeper. He hung up his gloves in 1998 and became Alemannia Aachen’s sporting director three years later.

Aachen were riddled with debt when Schmadtke was appointed but sensationally reached the German Cup final as a second tier club in 2004, narrowly losing 3-2 to Werder Bremen. They followed that up by achieving promotion to the Bundesliga in 2006.

Schmadtke became Hannover’s sporting director in 2009 and helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup during his four years at the Niedersachsenstadion. He then joined Koln in 2013 and played an important role in their promotion to the Bundesliga a year later.

Schmadtke was appointed as Wolfsburg’s sporting director in 2018 but is available after resigning in February. He said at the time: “I’ve been doing all this for so long and I’ve realised that it’s time to end this chapter. There are other things in life that I would like to do. First and foremost I think of my wife, my family, who had to put back many years.”

 

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