Liverpool round-up: Champions League-winning ‘keeper deal agreed; Coutinho commits; £100m transfer kitty

Add as preferred source on Google

Spanish newspaper AS claim that Liverpool are among the clubs interest in former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas as he prepares to leave Portuguese side Porto with his contract expiring this summer, with some of their sources going as far as to say that a deal has already been agreed.

The 36-year-old has huge amounts of experience at the very highest level and would bring that to an Anfield outfit lacking experience in the Champions League ahead of their return to the competition next season.

The club has received another huge boost as number 10 Philippe Coutinho told ESPN Brasil that he has no plans to leave the club this summer as he revealed that he wants to become a legend on Merseyside. Sky Sports and the Independent have translated the quotes, as he said:

“Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour. Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more. I have a long contract with Liverpool. Speculation is for journalists only.”

http://gty.im/686437750

The Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona this summer but signed a new contract this year in what appeared to be a display of commitment. These latest statements seem to indicate that he does not want out of Anfield, but the club could still have a battle on their hands to retain their star man.

He may be persuaded by the fact that the Telegraph claim that Jurgen Klopp will be given a transfer budget of £100 million to spend this summer, with the a number of key top targets including Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk, Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita, Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic, with Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roma’s Mohammed Salah also linked.

It’s clear that huge investment will be needed to bring the squad up to scratch with lack of depth a major issue this season, but that £100 million budget may not stretch very far unless fringe players are sold too, with Virgil Van Dijk expected to cost as much as £50 million alone.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Alexandre de Sousa.