Liverpool have just made move to sign defender after £10.9m Federico Chiesa deal but Newcastle also pushing

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Liverpool are finally starting to become active in the transfer market as we approach deadline day – with Newcastle also looking to complete late business.

In case you missed it, Liverpool have agreed a £10.9m deal with Juventus for the signing of Federico Chiesa – with the Italy international currently heading to Merseyside for a medical.

Now, the Reds have also moved to sign a new defender – but face competition from Newcastle as the Magpies seemingly give up on Marc Guehi…

Liverpool and Newcastle battling Barcelona to sign Mohamed Simakan

Florian Plettenburg of Sky Germany now reveals that Newcastle are exploring a late move to sign Mohamed Simakan from RB Leipzig – but Liverpool have also enquired.

The respected journalist adds that Barcelona have asked about signing the 24-year-old ahead of Friday’s deadline too, with clubs in Saudi Arabia also hoping to secure the Frenchman’s signature.

Plettenburg adds that RB Leipzig are open to selling Simakan – who is contracted to the Bundesliga outfit until July 2027 – for a reasonable fee, despite the fact there is little time to sign a replacement.

Philipp Hinze – another journalist for Sky Germany – has previously claimed that RB Leipzig could sell the central defender for a sum of €40m (£33.7m) this summer, so that is presumably the sort of amount Liverpool and Newcastle will have to bid to bring the German side to the negotiating table.

Interestingly, Arne Slot himself is said to be personally keen on bringing Simakan to Liverpool this summer, after Joel Matip was released and Joe Gomez looks set to depart Anfield.

Marc Guehi now expected to remain at Crystal Palace

Incidentally, both Newcastle and Liverpool have been linked with a move for Guehi this summer – the Magpies have even seen four bids rejected by Crystal Palace, the latest of which was worth £65m.

That is obviously much more than the £33.7m RB Leipzig want for Simakan – who is the same age as the England international – so given the fact the Bundesliga side are open to selling their No.2 before Friday’s deadline, we would expect the Reds and the Magpies to turn attention away from the Crystal Palace No.6 now.

It should also be noted that Crystal Palace sold Joachim Andersen to Fulham in a £30m deal – while Chadi Riad has also just suffered an injury – so the chances of the Eagles selling Guehi at this stage of the window seem very, very slim.

Be sure to keep an eye on the situation involving Simakan, as Liverpool and Newcastle battle to sign the man from Marseille.