LIVERPOOL are lining up a £60million bid for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar after sealing a club-record deal to sign Naby Keita next summer.
But the Merseyside club insist the late activity before the transfer window closes on Thursday is not linked to the future of Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho, who they say is staying at Anfield regardless of who they buy.
Barcelona, who have just signed Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for £140m, are still hoping to prise the Brazilian away with sporting director Robert Fernandez saying: “It’s true we are in negotiations over a player to try and sign them. We hope to reach a deal and present a new player.”
Liverpool remain adamant Coutinho is not moving to the Nou Camp even if Klopp is successful in his bid for Lemar, who can play either as a central or wide midfielder.
Monaco however are understood to be reluctant to sell yet another player this summer after losing Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Timoue Bakyoko.
Arsenal are also interested in Lemar but Arsene Wenger insisted last week that his former club had told him the 21-year-old France international was not for sale.
Liverpool are bracing themselves for disappointment in their chase for Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is set to join Chelsea.
One player who will be arriving on Merseyside is Klopp’s long-term target Keita – but not until the end of the season.
Red Bull Leipzig have finally agreed to sell the Guinea international for a premium on top of his £48m release-clause figure, which kicks in next summer.
Keita had a medical at Liverpool’s Melwood training complex yesterday but will return to Leipzig for the season.
The Bundesliga club rejected a £66m offer from Liverpool earlier this summer but faced losing him for £48m next summer when his release clause came into affect and have decided to maximise the fee – which could be around £70m – while giving themselves a year to find a replacement.
Their stance was also influenced by the fact Keita has set his heart on a move to Anfield.
Simon Mignolet will be staying at Anfield despite being dropped from the squad for yesterday’s win over Arsenal. Napoli have shown interest but Klopp says the goalkeeper will be back in the team for the visit to Manchester City after the international break.
Meanwhile, Dejan Lovren says Liverpool’s front three are the best in the Premier League and will frighten the life out of defences with their pace this season.
Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and summer signing Mohamed Salah scored the first three goals in the impressive 4-0 win over Arsenal – with the fourth coming from another attacker, substitute Daniel Sturridge. The trio have all scored three goals so far and Lovren is predicting many more.
The Croatian defender said: “They are the best. They caused Arsenal a lot of problems. I’m lucky that I don’t have to face them very often in training. It tends to be the guys who aren’t in the first XI.
“All three of them are top players. They have pace and great quality. They are amazing. It would be quite difficult for any defender when you are up against Salah, Mane and Firmino.
“It’s a long season and we will see towards the end of the season who is in the first place. But you can see the difference those three players make.”
Source:www.express.co.uk