Liverpool transfer news LIVE – Swapped  Deal , Giorgi Mamardashvili message, Piero Hincapie plea, Gomez stance

All the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours, including updates on Takefusa Kubo, Piero Hincapie and the possible return of a cult

Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen

Hello and welcome to the Liverpool Echo’s LIVE blog! Arne Slot will be hoping to get off to a winning start when Ipswich Town welcome the Reds to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

While the Dutchman has been gearing up for his Premier League, Richard Hughes has been working hard to bolster the squad. Liverpool have been heavily linked with numerous big names, such as Rodrygo, Martin Zubimendi and Takefusa Kubo, but they’re yet to get a deal over the line.

In fact, the Reds are still the only English top flight club to have not yet made a major signing this summer. Despite this, Slot’s side remain one of the favourites to win the competition, with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all expected to played crucial roles.

Worryingly, though, the trio have each recently entered the final year of their contract at Anfield. So, with that being said, stay with us at the Liverpool Echo as we plate up all the latest news and transfer rumours

Alan Shearer delivers Liverpool Premier League prediction

Liverpool got their Premier League campaign underway with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Predicting how the Reds would do this season, Shearer believes Arne Slot will seal a respectable finish in his debut league campaign. “Liverpool haven’t signed anyone yet but from what I’ve seen throughout pre-season, it’ll be difficult for Slot to go in there after Jurgen Klopp and what he did for Liverpool,” Shearer told Betfair.

“But it is interesting to see the energy he looks to play with. Having said that, they’ve got the balance of a really good team already and with a couple of additions. I think Arne Slot will deliver Champions League football.”

Giorgi Mamardashvili transfer message

Valencia manager Ruben Baraja says Giorgi Mamardashvili remains focused despite interest from Liverpool.

It has been suggested that the 23-year-old is in line to become the long-term successor to current number one Alisson Becker. Reports suggest that Liverpool could sign the shot-stopper but send him out on loan.

Baraja said: “It’s very simple. He’s our player, and as long as there is no other different situation, I’m not going to evaluate anything.

“He’s here, he’s ready to participate. We can’t talk about situations that haven’t happened yet.”

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has been linked with a move

Xavi Alonso pleads Piero Hincapie to stay

The Express report Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso has spoken directly with Hincapie to ask him to stay at the club for at least another season amid interest from Liverpool and Tottenham.

The Reds have been linked with the 22-year-old for several years and are said to have seen an approach turned down in January. Meanwhile, Studio Futbol add both English clubs are ‘very interested’ in snapping him up while Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are also in the race.

Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen has been linked

Boss says Martin Zubimendi could still leave Real Sociedad

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil stated Liverpool offered Zubimendi a lot of money to move to Anfield.

However, he claimed the 25-year-old could still depart Sociedad if ‘another powerful team’ come after his signature before the end of the month.

“I haven’t said anything to him to convince him. But it’s clear that I’m very happy that he’s staying. We’re clear that Martin has great potential. We already knew that these opportunities would come his way in the market. And mind you, he could get other new ones up until the 30th.

“Liverpool is a very big team… Think about the money they were putting on the table to sign Zubimendi. The fact that he’s decided to stay has great significance. It’s very important and a source of pride, because it reflects that things are being done well at the club.

“For the moment, Martin is here with us. But he has rejected an offer, the first one that has come. I repeat that I am happy about it, but until the 30th a thousand things can happen: the market could move, there could be injuries, after two games some people could get nervous…

“For the moment Liverpool have already come, but who can say that another powerful team could not do so in the next

Joe Gomez’ Liverpool transfer stance

The ECHO understands Liverpool are understood to not be looking to actively sell the player and will leave the decision to the defender, with Slot happy for the player to fight his way back into contention.

Gomez is considering his future after being left out of the first Premier League matchday squad of the season by new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. Gomez didn’t travel to Portman Road for the clash against promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime.

The 27-year-old was given only 16 minutes during the friendly win over Sevilla last weekend, a game fellow centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Jarell Quansah started while Ibrahima Konate began the warm-up match against Las Palmas later the same day.