Taking a side bar from the huge home leg of the Europa League semifinal against Villareal tonight, here are seven players rumored to be moving to Liverpool. Obviously, take most, if not all of these with a grain of salt, but it makes for interesting chatter as Premier League season winds down.
1. Koln Goalkeeper Timo Horn
This one has sprouted up mostly from a narrative according to German magazine Kicker. At Anfield, there always seems to be some level of doubt regarding current number one Simon Mignolet, and maybe Jurgen Klopp is interested in acquiring his fellow countryman. Reportedly, Klopp has sent scouts to watch Horn, who was quoted recently:
“I have a long contract [until 2019] in Cologne and my heart is in Cologne. I think we will talk about it with the manager [Peter Stoger], Jorg Schmadtke and also the goalkeeper trainer and then we will see what comes next.”
This report was later shot down by Jorg Schmadtke, Cologne’s sporting director, who told Bild: “What’s decisive for me is when I have something in writing from a club or when the agent calls me. Both things have not happened so far.”
Schmadtke claims that there was been no formal approach by Liverpool as of yet.
2. Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen
For what it’s worth, Spanish publication Sport has claimed that Liverpool have made a ‘formal offer’ for the former Arsenal man and Manchester United target. The Belgian center-back has hardly played with Barca, as he’s struggled massively with injuries. Obviously, Liverpool will only be seriously interested if Vermaelen can show that he’s actually healthy. He still has something to prove in that regard.
3. From the Daily Mirror: “Liverpool and Manchester City have been joined by Southampton and Atletico Madrid in the hunt for Monaco’s 20-year-old France U21 midfielder Thomas Lemar.”
4. “Liverpool will attempt to lure defender Ben Chilwell from Leicester City in the summer.
5. In the Daily Star: “Arsenal are ready to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City for young Celtic defender Kieran Tierney.”
6. “Liverpool target Andriy Yarmolenko, 26, will not be allowed to leave Dynamo Kiev for “clubs like Everton and Stoke City,” according to club president Ihor Surkis.
7. Finally, the Daily Express has an item on Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but I don’t really think that’s an item really worth going into detail about. The same publication also offers this: “Liverpool and Manchester City have shown an interest in Paris Saint-Germain teenager Jonathan Ikone.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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