Liverpool: Bid turned down for Barcelona target; full-back latest; Balotelli blow

By John Arkless

For a club of Liverpool’s historical stature and future ambition, they are naturally still being linked with a number of names in the transfer window, despite already adding seven new faces to the squad. As always with the big sides, they are also perpetually being linked with centre-forwards, and once again this is the case for the Reds.

The forward in question? Gremio striker Luan Vieira, the 23-year-old striker who is on the verge of representing his country in the Olympic Games. A scorer of 17 goals last season, was reportedly a target for the Reds earlier in the summer, but Gremio rejected ‘advances’ for the player.

It is unclear whether Liverpool are still interested in the striker, but it is rumoured that part of the reason that Gremio rejected the advances of the Reds, as well as those of an unnamed Italian club, was due to their preference of doing business with Barcelona.

Rumoured to be worth around £18 million to his club, interest in Vieira is unlikely to be revived by Liverpool before the end of the transfer window unless he has a staggering Olympics with Brazil. However, it does raise the question of whether Liverpool should attempt to bring in another striker before the start of the season.

Embed from Getty Images

Currently, the Reds have Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Christian Benteke as striking options, with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane as auxiliary forwards should another injury crisis strike. However, with Benteke not playing a single minute of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, Ings coming back from a serious knee injury and Sturridge infamous for his injury record, another striker could well be investing in. It won’t be Vieira, but watch this space for the rest of the month.

One striker who almost certainly won’t be at Liverpool next season is Mario Balotelli, the forgotten man who was brought in, disastrously, to attempt to fill the void left by Luis Suarez two summers ago.

Embed from Getty Images

Sadly, attempts for Liverpool to ditch their errant striker have once again failed, as Pescara president Daniele Sebastiani said that the Serie A side were no longer interested in launching a bid to sign the 25-year-old Italian.

It is another blow for the club, who wish to get Balotelli, his propensity for toking on cigarettes and his £90,000 per week wages as far away from the club as possible. Klopp has previously said that the club will be getting rid of the player this summer, either on loan or by terminating his contract, but time is running out to recoup any of the £16 million they spent on one of their most famous flops.

Aside from striking problems, an area where Liverpool a really struggling for players is at left-back, with many fans wanting a replacement for Alberto Moreno. Yesterday it was reported in the Italian media that Mattia de Sciglio had been the subject of a £16 million bid by the Reds, but Calcio Mercato have today said that De Sciglio has rejected the Anfield side in order to hold out for Juventus.

Liverpool undoubtedly need to sign a new left-back ahead of the new season, and De Sciglio carries the benefits of being able to operate from both flanks. However, if he is desperate for a move to Turin, then Liverpool must continue their search as well. Jonas Hector has once again been linked with a move, but the Reds are reported to be unhappy with his £20 million price tag.

Embed from Getty Images

The hunt for a new left-back for a lot longer. Be prepared for some deadline day action if nothing gets sorted soon.

Featured Image: All Rights Reserved by Nazionale Calcio