A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as England boss Gareth Southgate’s feelings about Trent Alexander-Arnold are revealed amid interest in an essential Reds player.
Johan Bakayoko is ‘very high’ in Liverpool’s transfer shortlist
Liverpool have PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko ‘very high’ on their transfer shortlist this summer. That is according to Graeme Bailey, who exclusively tells Rousing The Kop that Anfield chiefs ‘like him a lot’ and are also not denying their appreciation of the 21-year-old.
Bakayoko could even emerge as one of Liverpool’s outright top targets as they move to hand Arne Slot a strong side to start his reign. The Merseyside outfit are doing their homework on several potential targets but admire what the Belgian produced over the 2023/24 campaign.
The Overijse native penned 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 games across all competitions this season. Bakayoko further enthralled Liverpool with 12 of his goals and nine assists coming in 33 Eredivisie appearances. The 12-cap talent is now in Germany for Euro 2024 with Belgium.
Read more about what Bailey has said about Liverpool’s interest in Bakayoko, here.
Al Nassr are ‘definitely’ interested in Virgil van Dijk’s transfer
Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr are interested in signing Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk over the summer transfer market. That is according to David Lynch, who notes that there is ‘definitely truth’ in the Global One harbouring real desires to convince the 32-year-old to leave Anfield.
But Liverpool insist the Merseyside team have not received any approach for the centre-half yet. The Reds are also clear that the team would not welcome any enquiries to sell Van Dijk. He is still very much a part of their short-term future but has a contract that expires in 2025.
Van Dijk will enter the final year of his terms on July 1 having not signed a new contract with Liverpool since August 2021. But the Anfield natives are loath to let the Dutchman leave yet. He started 36 of the club’s Premier League games this term after taking over their captaincy.
Read more about Al Nassr’s interest in Van Dijk’s transfer from Liverpool, here.
Danny Rose reveals Gareth Southgate’s true feelings about Trent Alexander-Arnold
Danny Rose says it was ‘evident’ during his time in the England squad that Gareth Southgate struggled to trust Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to play at right-back. He even still feels the Reds vice-captain’s best chance to get in their XI is by moving into the midfield.
Alexander-Arnold is expected to play more from the heart of England’s XI at Euro 2024 after getting their #8 shirt. Southgate has occasionally experimented with playing the 25-year-old in the role before. But he has seldom featured in their engine room against an elite country.
Only 20 of Alexander-Arnold’s 25 England caps from a potential 49 games have also come in Southgate’s starting XI. Rose shared the pitch with him in four of those matches, as well. Yet it was evident that Southgate struggled to trust Alexander-Arnold to start over Kyle Walker.
Rose told the Mirror: “It was probably a little bit evident that Gareth, I don’t want to say he didn’t trust him at right-back, but with Kyle obviously being in such great form over the years, it’s obviously difficult for any right-back to get in, let alone Trent.
“But I think ideally if Trent was to get in this England team, I think his best shot would be in the midfield.”
Read more about what Rose has said about Southgate and Alexander-Arnold, here.