LIVERPOOL TRANSFERS NEWS LIVE – Anthony Gordon response, Martin Zubimendi latest, Brentford build-up

The latest Liverpool news and transfer updates on Mohamed Salah, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Piero Hincapie, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Teun Koopmeiners, Jarrad Branthwaite, Anthony Gordon, Luis Diaz and many more

Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrates

For Liverpool and their rivals, crucial days approach. The summer transfer window is due to close on Friday, meaning there is likely to be a mad dash to conclude business before the deadline.

The Reds are closing in on the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili, according to reports. The expected arrival of the Georgian goalkeeper would become their first summer signing and the first recruit of the Arne Slot era. He will seemingly remain at Valencia until next season as they close in on a deal worth over €30million (£25m) with the Spanish club.

They are also being linked with plenty of names around Europe following the failure to lure Martin Zubimendi to Anfield. The latest reports have suggested that Teun Koopmeiners and Piero Hincapie are players they admire.

Also in the time that remains, there are a number of players already at Anfield with futures to resolve. One player that doesn’t have to be worried about is Alisson Becker, who just freshly reaffirmed his commitment to the club.

That said, part of Slot’s first-team ranks are Joe Gomez, who was left on Merseyside as he weighed up his options ahead of the transfer window closing last weekend, Tyler Morton, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak.

From the academy a number of players have been absent from Under-21s duty also, namely James McConnell, Kaide Gordon, Owen Beck, Calum Scanlon and Marcelo Pitaluga. Most, if not all of the above are expected to wrap up either permanent or loan exits from the club in the coming days, so there is plenty of activity to watch out for.

Bajcetic interest

Valencia are said to be interested in signing Stefan Bajcetic on loan.

The Liverpool midfielder is ready for selection after a season of injury setbacks last term, though could be heading away from Anfield on a temporary basis.

A recent report indicated his former club Celta Vigo were interested in a deal to sign him and it has now been claimed Valencia are also in the running.

La Voz de Galicia via Superdeporte have stated Valencia are “one of the options on the table”, which would be “framed in a context of negotiations” between the two clubs for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Stefan Bajcetic of Liverpool during a training

Van den Berg regret

PSV Eindhoven head coach Peter Bosz has admitted he was left disappointed after seeing Sepp van den Berg sign for Brentford.

Liverpool cashed in on Van Den Berg earlier this week five years after signing the Dutch defender from PEC Zwolle, with Brentford paying a fee of £20million plus £5m in potential add-ons.

Van den Berg had attracted interest from a variety of clubs this summer on the back of an impressive individual campaign at Bundesliga club Mainz, alerting the likes of PSV, Bayer Leverkusen and Southampton, though the centre-back ultimately chose the Bees as his next destination.

PSV made their move for Van Den Berg with a £10m bid at the end of July, which was rejected, and failed to return to the negotiating table after seeing their offer knocked back by the Reds. Frustrated to have missed out on the 22-year-old, PSV coach Bosz admitted at his press conference: “I would have really liked to have Van den Berg at PSV. I had a very nice conversation with him and he was keen to come to us, but we couldn’t reach an agreement with Liverpool.

“When you see the amounts, that makes sense. It didn’t work out with Van den Berg, so we are now going to get another very good player.”

Sepp van den Berg in action during the pre-season friendly against Real Betis

Bowen move backed

Michael Owen has named Jarrod Bowen as the player he would sign if Liverpool were to lose one of their attackers.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz have both been linked with exits this summer, though both remain at the club heading into the final week of the window.

Were one of them to move on, Bowen would be Owen’s first-choice. Explaining why, the former Liverpool striker told Prime Casino: “Liverpool have great forward options at the moment with Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, but if one of them left then Jarrod Bowen would be my favourite.

“But he has signed a long-term contract at West Ham and he might even be their captain. He also isn’t 19 so when you talk about a long-term replacement, you’re looking at players that might give you 10 years and not be in their 30s in two or three years.

“I’m not sure clubs want to spend 10s and 10s of millions on those players nowadays.”

West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen

Zubimendi latest

Martin Zubimendi completed 90 minutes of action as he helped Real Sociedad to a 1-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday evening.

The Spanish midfielder was on the bench for his club’s opening La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, though came on at the start of the second half and scored a goal.

That Zubimendi is now starting games from the off is the clearest indication yet he is likely to be staying in his home country this summer.

Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad

Slot on Trent, Van Dijk, Salah

Arne Slot has offered an update on the futures of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

All three players are out of contract at the end of the season, at which point they would be free to move on and sign for another club.

Supporters have been left concerned by the lack of progress regarding keeping the trio at Anfield, which Slot has now addressed.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Liverpool boss said: “What I do with all of them is bringing the best out of them. It’s up to them if they want to sign, it’s up to the club and us if we give them a new contract. The best thing for all of them is, if you’re out of contract or not, get the best performance as possible. I should, and will, help them to bring the best out of them.

“My main focus is on Brentford and not on contract extensions. We will see how it works out.”

Liverpool boss, Arne slot

Gordon reaction

Eddie Howe has also directly addressed Anthony Gordon’s situation after numerous links to Liverpool.

Gordon was offered to the Reds, with Jarell Quansah first requested in a swap deal before Joe Gomez was put forward by Arne Slot’s side.

Newcastle have managed to keep hold of the former Everton attacker, who Howe acknowledges “will have seen a lot” of reports about him this summer amid talk of a possible Liverpool move.

“The Euros will have been an incredible experience for him,” said Howe. “The first time that he will have been with England for any length of time and Im sure he’ll have learned, seen and experienced a lot from that.

“Sometimes, we all have this vision of the fairytale ending, you go in and help win your country the tournament at the first time, but life is rarely like that. Anthony will have seen a lot and hopefully use that for next time that he’s involved.”

Eddie Howe and Anthony Gordon.

Gordon hint?

Eddie Howe has refused to rule out the prospect of recruiting another forward before the end of the transfer window, offering Liverpool hope of a possible deal for Anthony Gordon.

The Reds have been strongly linked with a move for the winger in recent weeks, seeing a deal come close to occuring, and it remains to be seen whether a late move is considered.

Newcastle will of course have to replace Gordon should he depart and Howe has hinted there could be arrivals at St James’ Park.

“I have been in the game too long to make those statements,” he said.

“What I will say is, from my part and the club’s part, we will do everything we can to keep our best players, but I am not a fortune teller. As managers, we learn to live with it in this world because we have to. But it’s not ideal, there is a lot going on.”