After a quiet start to the window, Liverpool are beginning to firm up some of their summer transfer plans.
Unusually for the Reds, they are yet to make a new addition since the end of the Premier League season.
However, with Arne Slot only just beginning life at Anfield and summer international competitions taking centre stage, there are reasons for that.
With June soon to turn to July though, Liverpool need to start getting a move on. There are some areas of the Reds’ squad that can be upgraded for them to be ready to start the new season.
One of the improvements that could be made is in an already stacked forward line. Despite Slot having options in attack, there are clear signs that Liverpool are looking for more.
Liverpool pull out of talks to sign Anthony Gordon
Some supporters would argue that there are other areas of Slot’s squad that need adding to before the forward line.
A new centre-back should perhaps be Liverpool’s priority, with links to Riccardo Calafiori of Italy making plenty of sense.
However, it can’t be ignored that the Reds were at times a little stale in attack last season. There is plenty of firepower there, but it is not always as effective as it could be.
One thing we also know about Liverpool is that they can be especially opportunistic in the transfer market. If there is a surprise deal to be had, they might just take their chance with it.
And thanks to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, one of those rare opportunities might have just presented itself. According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool have been in talks over a possible move for Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
READ MORE: What Liverpool are really thinking about buying Anthony Gordon from Newcastle
They claim that Newcastle were in fact ‘ready to sell’ Gordon to Liverpool earlier this week as they ‘strive to comply with financial rules’ by June 30th.
However, talks reportedly broke down between the clubs after the Magpies asked for Jarell Quansah as part of the deal.
It’s claimed that Liverpool ‘may have proceeded’ with the transfer under different conditions and are big admirers of Gordon. The Reds are said to be absolutely against losing Quansah as part of the negotiation, though.
There’s reportedly a chance that talks could resume about a different package over the weekend. For Gordon’s part, he’s said to be happy at Newcastle, but was claimed to be ‘aware’ of talks between the Magpies and his boyhood club.
How much would Anthony Gordon cost Liverpool?
With the Premier League’s financial deadline arriving on Sunday, this could now move very quickly indeed.
Newcastle are in need of making a big sale before the weekend is over and as a result aren’t in a particularly strong negotiating position.
It was the right call for Liverpool to refuse Quansah’s entry into such a deal. The 21-year-old is one of the best talents the academy has produced in years.
Without Quansah’s presence in negotiations though, it’s likely that Liverpool would still have to cough up a big fee to get Gordon.
There has been talk of Gordon being worth £100m in the past and although that sounds extraordinarily high, Newcastle would surely want a big chunk of that.
This could get interesting the longer the weekend goes on. For now though, the deal looks to be off.