Liverpool have been unusually quiet in the early weeks of the post-season break.
The Reds are often keen to get their transfer business done early so as to be in a good place to plan for the campaign ahead.
However, with Arne Slot coming in to replace Jurgen Klopp, things may be slightly different at Anfield this summer.
Nevertheless, we have still seen plenty of transfer rumours where Liverpool are involved. The Reds are seemingly in for another midfielder and are reportedly preparing an offer for Benfica’s Joao Neves.
As well as Neves, a handful of other players have also been linked to Liverpool. One of those most regularly mentioned in the media has now come out to address the rumours.
Ederson speaks out after Liverpool links
Liverpool’s need for a new midfielder this summer will be the course of some debate amongst supporters.
Some will feel that Slot already has ample options within the Liverpool squad. Others will believe that the lack of a top-class defensive midfielder could prove fatal.
If the Reds do decide to plug that gap over the next few months, then Atalanta midfielder Ederson would look like a good bet to do it.
The Brazilian has been heavily linked with Liverpool, with the Reds reported to have already spoken to Ederson about a move.
READ MORE: Liverpool have always paid closer attention to signing £60m midfielder than Ederson
That claimed was followed up by a suggestion that Liverpool are preparing a bid of around £38m for the 24-year-old. And with his name a hot topic on Merseyside, Ederson has spoken to Diario AS about his immediate future.
“I’m very happy at Atalanta. I’ve just won a big title, I’m very well integrated. My future is something that doesn’t worry me,” he says. “If something comes up about a transfer, the club has to accept it first, and that’s the most important thing. I have a good relationship with Atalanta, so the moment they come and tell me they have some kind of offer, that’s when the talks start.
“At the moment, I’m an Atalanta player and I’m still an Atalanta player. When I finish my time with the national team, I will also enjoy a small holiday, which is important to rest, and then I will return to Italy.”
Pushed to name a league he’s interested in moving to, Ederson admitted that the Premier League had always made him ‘curious.’
“I don’t know, I’ve thought about it a lot,” he says. “I like Italy, I’m well adapted, but I’m curious about the Premier League, so I don’t know. I’m still growing, so I don’t know if I’ll stay in Italy, I think I still have more to prove. If I go somewhere else, then too. I will continue to grow.”
Liverpool given Ederson encouragement
Although Ederson is clearly pledging his loyalty to Atalanta, this interview reads like something of a ‘come and get me’ plea.
After Ederson dominated the Europa League final, he is surely now on the radar of a number of top clubs.
And his admission that he’d be keen to come and play in England will likely only embolden those who are interested in making him theirs.
For Liverpool, we’re not altogether sure it will move them at all. If the Reds want Ederson, they’ll have been putting that plan in place already. If they don’t, then something like this is highly unlikely to interest them.
In our opinion, it doesn’t seem as though the Brazil international is a serious target for Liverpool. There is a lot of smoke to suggest otherwise, but for the moment we don’t see much fire.
Still, one to keep an eye on.