Liverpool are more likely to sign £80m Premier League star than Carlos Baleba next summer - journalist
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Liverpool will still look to strengthen their squad following a summer transfer window that has seen a massive rebuild.
Arne Slot’s side decided to spend big money in the summer following a successful Premier League campaign, which ended with them as champions of England for the second time in five years.
The money spent by the Reds went on adding new players to as many positions as possible, as they spent just over £400 million to put themselves in a prime position to defend their title this season.
Some of those players have already had a great start with Hugo Ektike getting off the mark up front for Liverpool, plus Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong look like great additions to both full-back positions.
Fans are yet to see a complete Alexander Isak debut or performance, but his cameos have excited supporters as he reaches full match fitness, especially after his goal against Southampton on Tuesday.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
There is still room to improve, with the centre-back position a must after Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury, but in the midfield and attacking areas, extra players are incredibly important.
Carlos Baleba was one of those players who was linked with a move to Merseyside over the summer from Brighton and Hove Albion, but it was never anything concrete.
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The Cameroonian has attracted attention from other clubs in England’s top-flight, with Manchester United the likely destination, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Speaking to The United Stand, Jacobs revealed that if Liverpool were going to try and sign a player from the league to play in both the middle and attacking areas, it would more likely be someone similar to Morgan Rogers.
He said: “So if Manchester United want Carlos Baleba, they don’t have to worry about Liverpool or anyone else.
They have to worry about probably finding 100 plus million, maybe even closer to 115 or 120 million, hoping that Brighton want to sell, which is far more likely in a year’s time.
“And then will they be head-to-head with Liverpool?
But I think Liverpool might be more inclined to go for a Morgan Rogers-type player.
But if it isn’t Liverpool, there’s bound to be other suitors for Carlos Baleba.”
It is still likely for Liverpool to try to sign the 21-year-old Brighton player, but a cheaper option could be Rogers.
The Villa player would be worth around £80 million, according to The Telegraph, making him a better option financially.
While both are great, proven options to add to the squad, it is not necessarily the position Liverpool need to strengthen.
Mohamed Salah signed a two-year deal to stay on Merseyside, but his position is lacking a strong backup or successor once that contract runs out.
The midfield is full of talent like Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, who will likely remain at the club for longer than their current contracts, which secures the midfield future for now.
Add to that Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister, and focusing on securing a player like Michael Olise would be more preferable for the long-term future of the attack.