Liverpool are said to be showing “keen interest” in a Ukrainian midfielder who has been described as one of the country’s “brightest talents,” with Reds scouts keeping an eye on the youngster.
Georgiy Sudakov currently plies his trade with Shakhtar Donetsk, and at the age of 21 has played 91 senior matches for his club, predominantly in midfield.
According to journalist Artur Petrosyan, who is a reliable source when it comes Eastern European links, Liverpool’s scouts have been “attentively tracking” the Ukrainian over the last year.
The Reds are said to be “showing keen interest,” but they are not alone in that as Juventus and Arsenal are also claimed to be “in the race” to land Sudakov.
The Ukrainian international is a versatile midfielder who readily plays in a more advanced position, and has scored 12 goals and set up another nine in his club career to date.
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[embedded content]Previously, journalist Fabrizio Romano reported Shakhtar turned down offers in the region of £30-34 million in January, and for good reason as he is claimed to have a £128m release clause in the summer.
That is certainly not a fee Liverpool would pay, but the expectation is there is room for negotiation as we can all agree that is an ambitious price for an up-and-coming player.
Sudakov extended his contract until 2028 earlier this year but recently disclosed that Shakhtar’s CEO, Sergey Palkin, said a move elsewhere in Europe would be possible within the next year.
The midfielder was quoted as saying: “I agreed to extend [my contract] by six more months until winter 2028 because the previous agreement was valid until summer.
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[embedded content]“Palkin (Shakhtar CEO) has said I can go to Europe in six months or a year and trust him and the President.”
Liverpool invested heavily in their midfield last summer following several key departures, and while the current lack of a manager beyond this season complicates matters, the club will not be caught sleeping on transfer prospects.
Sudakov appears an option with plenty of potential, he’s already amassed 14 senior caps for Ukraine and, subsequently, the experience Liverpool look for when considering young transfer prospects.
Perhaps another player to keep an eye on, in addition to Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners who was recently linked, but we will see more concrete targets emerge once the club have settled the key positions off the pitch at the conclusion of the season.
Pepijn Lijnders is “under consideration” for the top job at Ajax having already ruled himself out of the race to be Jurgen Klopp‘s successor at Anfield.
“I’m excited to manage, I’m excited to go, to find the right club who really wants [me],” Lijnders recently explained of his future in the wake of Klopp’s departure news.
The 41-year-old has been linked to Ajax for some time now, bizarrely rumoured to another assistant role, but that was never to be on the cards.
And now, as per the likes of the Times‘ Paul Joyce and the Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe, Lijnders is a “contender” for the vacant Ajax job.
The Dutch club currently have John van’t Schip as their interim manager, who was appointed in October, and are in a transitional period as they sit 31 points off leaders PSV.
And Ajax clearly value Lijnders’s opinion having consulted the Dutchman over the signing of Jordan Henderson in January, meaning a reunion could be on the cards in Amsterdam.
The former Liverpool captain has played nine games for Ajax to date and has worn the captain’s armband in six of them – though he has not escaped criticism during a bad run of results.
Lijnders has taken one senior management role in the past, with NEC Nijmegen in 2018, but it lasted less than five months after failing to secure promotion to the Eredivisie.
He has since established himself as Klopp’s right-hand man and has been loyal to seeing out the project alongside the German – he previously revealed he has rejected several job opportunities over the years.
The Ajax job would be a big one for Lijnders to take on as expectations will be incredibly high, but he has been insistent that his choice will be swayed by the club that “really wants” him.
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[embedded content]It is a decision he will make alongside his family as well as Vitor Matos, Liverpool’s elite development coach, who is expected to be named Lijnders’ assistant when the time comes.
Lijnders said back in February: “In a few months time I will sit down with my manager, now is not the time, but then I will see what kind of options I have, which club really wants [me].
“And in that moment, I will make a decision that is for me good, hopefully for Vitor what is good and hopefully for my family.”
Three-and-a-half months on from a nasty ACL injury, Joel Matip took a major step in his recovery during training – as a big decision looms over his Liverpool future.
Matip was dealt a miserable blow in December as he was forced off the pitch midway through the second half of the 4-3 win over Fulham at Anfield.
The centre-back was making his 12th start of the season, but it would be his last as scans on his knee discovered damage to his ACL which required surgery.
But after increasing his workload in the gym in recent weeks, he was cleared to run around the pitches at the AXA Training Centre for the first time in over three months.
“Joel Matip is, today, running for the first time,” Jurgen Klopp told fans watching an open session on Wednesday.
“How many months? Three months? Crazy, absolutely crazy.”
There is still no sign that Matip will be fit to play a part in any of Liverpool’s games in the final two months of the season.
With his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, he is facing the very real prospect that he has played his last game for the club.
That feeling was only magnified with the news of Klopp’s resignation, with the manager having previously suggested that he would push for a new deal for his No. 32.
Whether Klopp’s successor would look to retain Matip is obviously unclear, but there was at least good news for the 32-year-old this week.
Despite his injury problems, there would unlikely be a shortage of suitors if Liverpool opt against offering him a contract extension.
Matip has already been linked with a return to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt, for example, though the credibility of those claims can be questioned.
The likelihood is that if his recovery overlaps with the end of his current terms, Liverpool would at least oversee the remainder of his rehabilitation after eight seasons on Merseyside.
Across the international break, Liverpool’s players clocked up a combined total of over 1600 minutes, with two left-backs returning to Merseyside injured.
Andy Robertson is the notable worry, having limped off in Scotland’s game against Northern Ireland with an ankle injury.
Loanee Owen Beck was the other player to return, as a groin injury prevented him from playing any part of Wales’ Euros-qualifying playoff matches.
Here is a quick look at how the Reds’ internationals got on throughout the March break.
Minutes playedThankfully, there were just three Liverpool players who played the full amount of minutes possible for their national sides this break.
Kostas Tsimikas‘ two-legged Euros playoff ended in disappointment as his Greece team were upset on penalties by Georgia – the left-back didn’t take a spot-kick.
Tsimikas – 210
Van Dijk – 180
Szoboszlai – 180
Bradley – 173
Diaz – 156
Robertson – 127
Gomez – 103
Kelly – 99
Gakpo – 97
Konate – 90
Kelleher – 90
Mac Allister – 77
Endo – 32
Jaros – 0
Under 21s:
Elliott – 164
Koumas – 115
Miles – 90
Quansah – 90
Morton – 90
Under 20s:
Chambers – 102
Gordon – 65
Clark – 34
Under 18s:
Danns – 209
Nallo – 192
Nyoni – 77
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[embedded content]Conor Bradley managed his first senior international goal with this brilliant effort against Scotland, the only goal of the game. Whisper it quietly but this may have taken a deflection – we’re giving Bradley credit, though.
Szoboszlai – 2
Mac Allister – 1
Bradley – 1
Koumas – 1
That pass from Harvey Elliott was pure filth. #EnglandU21 #England #Luxembourg pic.twitter.com/93VBQeSP0r
— David Randall? (@DavidJRandall) March 26, 2024
Cody Gakpo put in a strong performance, setting up former-Red Gini Wijnaldum for his second assist in a 4-0 win over Scotland.
Luis Diaz‘s dribble and cross for Colombia’s winner against Spain was special and showed the immense talent he possesses on the ball.
Gakpo – 2
Elliott – 2
Morton – 2
Diaz – 1
With just 10 games to go, Liverpool still have their Premier League destiny in their hands, but what do we need to be saying our Hail Marys for to ensure Jurgen Klopp gets his fairytale ending?
The Reds have found themselves in a position few backed them to be in seven months ago, keeping pace with the leaders despite a host of unfortunate injury issues.
Such fitness problems have been the undoing of Klopp’s Liverpool in years gone by, including as recently as last season and two years earlier behind closed doors.
It seems the players are currently hell-bent on not allowing any obstacles to knock them off track in their pursuit of history, but there will undoubtedly be twists and turns to come between now and May.
We’re taking a look at some of the controllables – and uncontrollables – that could dictate whether Liverpool could end this extraordinary era of the football club with a record-equalling 20th league crown.
No more big injuriesLiverpool have coped with adversity admirably to this point, but the strains of battling on multiple fronts could yet bite them if fortunes don’t improve soon.
Recent months have proved that the youth and fringe players can be called upon to do a more-than-adequate job when required, but the sheer volume of fixtures in the coming weeks will really stretch that depth to its limits.
The international break has, for once, fallen at a favourable time for the manager, and he will be hopeful of getting the best versions of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones back when we return.
It may be too late for this, with Andy Robertson picking up an issue on Scotland duty, but in Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas there is excellent cover.
A bit of luck wouldn’t go amiss as we approach the run-in!
Arsenal and Man City to drawWhile Arsenal gave themselves a fractional initiative heading into the break, Liverpool are still more than handily placed for when Brighton visit on Easter Sunday.
The Gunners will travel to Pep Guardiola’s Man City for a meeting that takes place immediately after our home clash with the Seagulls, and crucially, they can’t both win that one.
Should we take care of business earlier in the day, the table will make for prettier reading regardless of what happens in Manchester.
But a draw would see both sides drop points and put the Reds very much back in the driving seat.
8 wins from 10It is a rare instance in which the race to the finish features three horses rather than two, meaning that near-perfection will be required to rack up the necessary points tally.
Eight wins and a draw on the home straight would see Liverpool end the campaign with 93 points, a number you’d expect many fans would deal on given the respective fixture lists that still lie ahead.
How many points would you take to get it done?
Forwards to keep firingMuch of Liverpool’s recent success has been built upon the excellent form of the attacking players, with 16 goals coming in just six games throughout February in all competitions.
Mohamed Salah‘s latest impressive goalscoring campaign could yet conceivably see him end with the Premier League‘s Golden Boot should he pick up where he left off before the Africa Cup of Nations.
Darwin Nunez is also enjoying a rich vein of form and is continuously improving as each month ticks by, proving himself to be the man for the big moments by scoring more winning goals than anyone else in the division so far in 2023/24.
And we could still see a telling impact from Diogo Jota before the season’s end, with the No. 20 now nearing a return from injury.
Results away to the enemiesGoodison Park and Old Trafford have typically been two of the very few haunts that the manager has struggled to fully master, but those trips could prove pivotal if we are to get to where we need to be.
Everton and Man United present arguably the two biggest tests between now and the final day, and the latter will be willing to move heaven and earth to prevent us matching their tally of 20 league titles.
Our blue neighbours will be equally keen to see us fall at the final hurdle – whilst having their own battles to contend with at the other end of the spectrum, shall we say.
Their respective motivation won’t make things easy, but championships aren’t given away easily and Liverpool simply have to overcome the challenges they will present if they are to earn the prize they want the most.
Anfield at its bestMuch has been made of the home atmosphere in recent years, with some believing that it has fallen off while others argue that we have a false perception of the past.
Wherever you sit on it, since Klopp gave us another of his famous tickings off in December Anfield has been exceptional when it has been needed most.
Liverpool’s youngsters were carried over the line at Wembley by a defiant rendition of ‘Allez Allez Allez’ during extra time, while we enjoyed a return to the ‘good old days’ during an exceptional second-half performance against Man City.
We have a maximum of seven home games left to enjoy under the great man – there is simply no excuse for Anfield not to be a bear pit all the way to the very end.
As the international break finally begins to wind down, we can finally take stock of where Liverpool are up to ahead of their match against Brighton.
Toulouse not in the pictureWith Fenway Sports Group looking to expand their “football portfolio”, reports emerged on Tuesday that the Liverpool owners were looking to acquire Toulouse.
However, on Wednesday the Liverpool Echo‘s Dave Powell, who is a good source for news relating to FSG, said: “Contrary to some reports, FSG not looking at acquiring Toulouse. No talks held. None planned.”
This dismissal of the Toulouse links doesn’t mean that FSG won’t be looking at other clubs, though.
To help with the acquisition of another club, the Reds’ owners are reportedly targeting Benfica’s technical director, Pedro Marques, as per the Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
Michael Edwards‘ appointment was also made with a view to him having influence over more than just Liverpool.
3 things todayAn excellent response by @ManUtd regards tackling tragedy chanting and delighted we can work in collaboration through education with #RealTruthLegacyProject @LFCFoundation @MU_Foundation pic.twitter.com/3jq8FOVZQ1
— lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) March 27, 2024
Klopp has written to a young fan that is struggling with anxiety.
When we say this means more, this is exactly what we mean. He is far more than a coach, a football manager, an employee of the club.
He is one of us, and he always will be.
Jürgen Klopp ?? pic.twitter.com/rSk007VRFg
— Ben (@SMXLFC) March 26, 2024
At his mural unveiling, This Is Anfield spoke to Robbie Fowler about how to effectively work with a sporting director, Jurgen Klopp‘s successor and Liverpool’s management of young players.
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[embedded content]Match of the night is Chelsea Women vs. Ajax Women in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Blues lead 3-0 from the first leg and you can watch the return fixture at 8pm (UK) on TNT Sports 1.
Former Liverpool forward Maxi Rodriguez has provided an injury update of sorts on Darwin Nunez, after meeting his “old friend” at the AXA Training Centre.
Nunez was forced to pull out of the Uruguay squad for this month’s friendlies against the Basque Country and the Ivory Coast with a minor injury, but was expected to be fit for the visit of Brighton.
That appears to be the case, with the 24-year-old pictured outside at the AXA Training Centre as Liverpool returned to work on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by a former team-mate in Rodriguez, who played alongside a teenage Nunez on eight occasions for Uruguayan club Penarol in 2018.
“I met an old friend at Liverpool’s training session,” Rodriguez wrote on Twitter.
En el entrenamiento del @LFC me encontré con un viejo amigo ??@Darwinn99 ?? ?
I met and old friend at Liverpool’s training session pic.twitter.com/vUsy5a904H
— Maxi Rodríguez (@MR11ok) March 27, 2024
Having only retired in 2021, at the age of 40, the Argentine is currently on Merseyside after featuring for Liverpool’s legends side against Ajax on Saturday.
He started on the wing in a team also including the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, with the charity match ending in a 4-2 victory for the Reds.
While it is as yet unclear whether Nunez took part in full training, the expectation is that he has and will be available to start against Brighton on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah also missed international duty this month but did so with a view to focusing on his long-term fitness and, therefore, will also be in contention.
There were no injuries for either Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo while away with Colombia or the Netherlands respectively, while Diogo Jota is not far from a return either.
That could leave Jurgen Klopp with a full complement of senior forwards for the majority of the run-in, which could prove key as Liverpool fight for the Premier League and Europa League between now and the end of May.