Report: ‘Special’ Liverpool target still considering his future as Reds could make January swoop
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The transfer window is firmly shut but Liverpool are already assessing their next options.
The Reds had a record-breaking summer after spending just shy of £450m, with their first-team squad now one that looks capable of retaining their Premier League title.
However, as with any team, there are still a few gaps that, ideally, they would have liked to fill, but the ideal candidates were not quite available to them this time around.
That does not mean an opening will not arise in the near future, and there is one player in particular who could be out the door sooner than people would have thought.
And, if Liverpool are as interested as the reports state, they could make a move as early as January in the hope that he can get them over the line in the back-end of the season.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
There is no denying the quality of players the Reds have added to their squad this summer, but the slight worry would be just how many important players they have lost, too.
One of the biggest departures was that of Luis Diaz, with the Colombian winger joining Bayern Munich for £65.5m even though he was integral to Arne Slot’s team last season.
Liverpool believe Rio Ngumoha is good enough to step up, hence why they have not signed a replacement, although Real Madrid’s Rodrygo was heavily linked with a move.
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But, according to TeamTalk, the Brazilian winger could be on the move when the January transfer window opens if he does not receive enough playing time, suggesting the Reds could still make a move.
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Rodrygo is said to still be ‘mindful of his future’, with new manager Xabi Alonso clearly not being his biggest fan in the world due to the lack of minutes he has given him thus far.
Labelled as a ‘special’ player by his former coach Carlo Ancelotti, Rodrygo would likely cost around €100m (£86.5m), although this could decrease by the time the new year rolls around.
Based on all of the links, it is clear that Liverpool are strong admirers of the 24-year-old, but the interest cannot be that strong if they are so hesitant to make a move.
The left-wing position was one of the more obvious positions that they needed after selling Diaz, yet they went down the route of bringing in a new striker, and even attempted to sign another defender.
So, with that said, they clearly have a lot of faith in Ngumoha and believe he is the future, so changing their stance in January does not seem likely unless the price is significantly lower.
The 17-year-old has also proven himself every time he has had the chance, so in rotation with Cody Gakpo, Liverpool should be able to see out the season with these two as their options.