Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Brighton & Hove Albion for midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Reds have already bolstered Jurgen Klopp’s squad days ahead of the January window officially opening by securing the services of Cody Gakpo.
An agreement has been reached with PSV that will see the Dutch forward become a Liverpool player on January 1. It doesn’t look as if the club are finished there, though, with significant news emerging on Caicedo.
Journalist Rudy Galetti took to Twitter to relay news regarding the Reds opening talks with Brighton for Caicedo on Thursday evening.
He added that an enquiry was made on Wednesday and said ‘just now Liverpool want to speed up things to sign the player’.
Many supporters may have been hoping to see the club look to bring in a midfielder following the arrival of Gakpo, especially as that area of the pitch has been a hot topic of transfer conversation in recent months.
Caicedo, hailed as an ‘exceptional player and character‘ by his team-mates, has been a regular for the Seagulls this season and has outperformed all of Liverpool’s senior midfielders in the Premier League, as per WhoScored.
Still just 21 years of age, he appears to be a star of the future, so a move now could be an exciting one both in the short and long run.
2 Liverpool lineup options vs. Leicester – with Cody Gakpo unavailable
Liverpool will not be able to call upon Cody Gakpo against Leicester on Friday, with Jurgen Klopp set to decide between his left-sided options.
The Reds are due for their 60th and final game of 2022 this week, as they face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester at Anfield.
A comprehensive victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day was their third in a row in the Premier League – bookending the World Cup break – and Klopp will be eager to make it four.
His attacking options remain limited, however, despite the £37 million signing of Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven earlier this week.
With Gakpo currently ineligible to feature, a big call is required on the left.
Team news
Here is what we know about the Liverpool squad for Friday, including from Klopp’s press conference:
- Cody Gakpo is unavailable and cannot be registered until January 1
- Roberto Firmino has “already healed” but targeting Brentford return
- Ibrahima Konate is back available – and no new injuries post-Villa
- Curtis Jones likely still out along with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Arthur
Liverpool’s XI vs. Leicester
With no immediate new concerns emerging following the 3-1 win at Villa, and four days between games, there is a strong chance the same side is retained.
If that is the case, there may be another opportunity for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the unfamiliar role of left winger:
- Alisson behind unchanged back four including Joel Matip
- Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago in midfield
- Oxlade-Chamberlain retained alongside Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez
That would see this Liverpool lineup at Anfield:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nunez
However, there is still scope for change, particularly with a tough trip to Brentford – who held Tottenham to a 2-2 draw on Boxing Day – to come just three days later.
That is unlikely to include Konate as a starter, but there are further options to rotate in midfield and attack:
- Changes to defensive line doubtful, with Matip to keep place
- Harvey Elliott an option to replace Henderson in midfield
- Fabio Carvalho able to step in if Oxlade-Chamberlain drops out
With those two alterations, Liverpool could shape up like this:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Thiago; Salah, Carvalho, Nunez
Though there are signs of improvement following the break and time spent training in Dubai, this Liverpool side remains a work in progress when it comes to rewriting their form.
But on a promising run, there is a convincing case to argue that Klopp should keep his faith in an unchanged lineup – particularly in the absence of key forwards.
It should be noted, too, that after Leicester and Brentford comes an FA Cup third-round clash with Wolves at Anfield, at which point more rotation can be employed.
Source: footballtransfertavern.com
