The American Gerrard- Transfer News and Rumors
“The name’s Gerrard, Jordan Gerrard,” also known as “The American Gerrard!” You know about the “Welsh Pirlo”, you’ve seen the “Egyptian Messi”, but you never knew about the American Gerrard! When the American Scouser needed a transfer expert I was there to smash it in from long range with an absolute belter. What a hit son, what a hit!
The Premier League returned to action this weekend, and with it came our beloved Liverpool Football Club. Our first match of the season against Championship… champions Leeds only brought up more questions about our leaky defense. Have opposition teams figured out our defensive tactics enough to render the world’s best defender not quite “best?” At the end of 90 minutes, the boys still did the job courtesy of a Mo Salah hat trick and a goal from Big Virg. Both players who somehow did not make my fantasy league team.
Leeds looked a proper Premier League side. I am still trying to decide if the whole team had man buns, or if Jack Harrison was just all over the pitch. The match started giving me flashbacks to a few seasons back when we had to score 3-4 goals each game to make up for poor defending. Virgil… what is happening, man?
Once again, the return of Premier League football is overshadowed by the return of Premier League football transfer rumors. I am back as always to go over the latest Liverpool transfer news and rumors. We have had some new stories cropping up this week, and I have done my best to gather the details and descriptions to provide you the facts (and fiction). Are Liverpool lining up a permanent move away for fan-favorite Rhian Brewster? Who is the new Goalkeeper being mentioned as LFC’s next signing? Move over Messi, will Mbappe be the next super star ready for an exit? All this and more in the newest article of the American Gerrard!
Brewster gets the Boot?
Rhian Brewster had a good half season for Swansea on loan. He continued his run of form during preseason, scoring three goals for Liverpool in two games. Then, he missed a penalty during the Community Shield match, leading to the Reds’ loss. Sky Sports report Liverpool are already considering selling Brewster! Of course, these outlandish claims say LFC will include a buy-back option in any deal.
Originally Brewster was tipped to go back to Swansea on loan for another season. Then interest emerged from the Premier League. I reported Leeds was sniffing around Brewster a few weeks back. Leeds have now signed Spanish striker Rodrigo so I think their interest in Brewster is gone. Now, Aston Villa, Brighton and Sheffield United are all rumored to be considering a move for the young striker.
Chris Wilder, Sheffield’s manager, is believed to be a huge admirer of Brewster, and has supposedly made him his top target. When questioned about bringing anymore players this window, Wilder revealed he was still waiting to get his final signing over the line. Klopp has said in the past that Liverpool were waiting past the start of the season to complete any outgoing business. Could Wilder be hinting at Sheffield waiting for Rhian Brewster?
Adding fuel to the fire, Sheffield announced the kit numbers for the upcoming season this week. Some observant fans noticed the number 24 was left vacant – the same number Brewster wears at Liverpool. I probably don’t need to say this but I will say it anyways. I do not believe Liverpool will let Brewster leave on a permanent transfer. However, I think it is likely that he will get a loan move to a Premier League side. I think Brewster not making the LFC bench during the match against Leeds United would be a indication of how his season could be potentially spent if he does not get loaned.
Wijnaldum Window closing
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Wijnaldum Window Closing
If you have missed the last few articles, I have been discussing the transfer rumors surrounding Georginio Wijnaldum going to Barcelona. New Barca Boss Ronald Koeman supposedly made Gini his top transfer target. Going along with these rumors, stories claimed Gini was refusing to sign a new contract with Liverpool in attempt to help facilitate a move to Barcelona. Last week I said that my most reliable of sources were rubbishing the claims of Gini moving to Barca, or any shady moves on Gini’s part to make a move happen.
Now that we are all caught up, new reports claim Gini has held important heart-to-heart talks with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp over his plans for Gini’s future at Anfield.
The meeting took place on Wednesday. No one really knows exactly what Klopp said, but apparently it was enough to sway Gini to stay. According to Sky Sports Klopp wants Gini to stay. Gini also wants to stay at Liverpool, and hopes to extend his contract. Some insiders are now hopeful Gini will sign a new contract with the Premier League champions, and it might only be a matter of time before we have a breakthrough in the situation
Despite these new positive updates, it is my understanding there are currently no talks between the player or LFC over a new contract at this time.
OkDiario claim the Barcelona hierarchy were not sold on signing Wijnaldum anyways, and prefer a move for former player Thiago Alcantara (where have we heard that name before?).
Pitaluga Please!
Globo Esporte and Sport Witness are reporting from Brazil that Liverpool have agreed a deal for 17-year-old Fluminense goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga. I briefly discussed the potential for this deal a few weeks ago when the rumors first broke.
An announcement was made on Fluminense’s official website this week stating Pitaluga would be heading to England for a medical. The announcement included a letter from the player highlighting his gratitude to the club for their part in his development as a player.
Christopher Beesley of the Liverpool Echo is reporting that the deal is done and should be confirmed in the coming days. The price is believed to be $2.3 million, with potential add-ons and a 25% sell on clause ensuring Fluminense receive a share of any future sale of the player. The player is believed to have been offered a three year contract with an option to extend for an additional year.
Marcelo Pitaluga was Fluminese’s fourth choice goalkeeper, and although he has played for Brazil’s national youth teams, he is definitely a player intended for the future. Pitaluga won the U17 World Cup with Brazil in 2019 and was a standout performer in this year’s Copa Sao Paulo, a U20 club competition in Brazil known for attracting the top scouts worldwide. It is believed Liverpool Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg was the driving force behind Liverpool’s interest. Achterberg even enlisted Alisson Becker to give his opinion on the player after Alisson spent time training with Pitaluga and Alisson’s brother Muriel Becker during the winter break.
Pitaluga has playing experience with Fluminense’s reserve squad, and regularly trained with their first team. This could indicate a quick progression to Liverpool’s U23s and working with the first team.
Mbappe 2021
The Times and basically every other sports new source are reporting Kylian Mbappe has told his current side Paris Saint-Germain that this season will be his last with the club as he seeks to move on at the end of the season. Mbappe’s contract will expire in the summer of 2022, putting PSG in a position where they could risk losing their most prized asset on free transfer if they fail to comply with Mbappe’s wishes.
Not surprisingly, Liverpool are being mentioned as a possible destination for one of the world’s most wanted players. Liverpool have frequently been linked with a fantastic move for Mbappe over the last two seasons. Jurgen Klopp has admitted his admiration for the player. He has even spoken of Liverpool’s attempt to sign the player before he moved to PSG. Mbappe himself has admitted his admiration for Liverpool and Klopp. With numerous recent quotes praising the team and Klopp, going as far as describing Liverpool as the best team in Europe. Mbappe has even been spotted favoring Liverpool for use while playing FIFA.
The FIFA story is what puts it over the line for me. I’m just kidding – in my honest opinion I do not believe Mbappe is ever coming to Liverpool, including next season. I have said this before,: Mbappe is a known Real Madrid fan. Real Madrid are known Mbappe fans. Mbappe has said Zinedine Zidane is his hero in the past and he his dream is to work under his former idol. It is safe to say Mbappe is probably going to Madrid when he gets the chance.
And let’s be honest, even if Liverpool sold Mane or Salah, they still would not be able to afford or match Mbappe’s potential wages elsewhere. Even if PSG are forced into selling Mbappe, he could easily set the new world record for the highest transfer fee. I just do not see Liverpool shelling out that kind of money…. unless there was a long term plan unfolding behind the scenes, which leads to my conspiracy theory.
As of writing this article, Liverpool have been very quiet in the transfer window the last two summers. Prior to the pandemic, FSG were reporting record profits and the overall value of the club was rising. Yes, we have increased our wage bill tying important players down to new contracts, and yes, we lost matchday revenue from playing in front of empty stands. But when you add in the prize money from winning the Champions League and Premier League, Liverpool must have some money in the coffers. So why would FSG be saving money?
What if we are saving money because next summer we will make a huge signing? A signing so large we needed to save up for two windows just to make it? Makes you think…
Questioning Klopp’s Quotes
As I just pointed out, LFC have been quiet in the last few transfer windows. We have made some additions, but none of the big-money signings you might expect from a club considered one of Europe’s best. Despite the reports of financial setbacks due to the pandemic throughout the Premier League, many of our title rivals have taken advantage of a cheaper market. While Klopp has made excuses based on finances, other sides have spent heavily on reinforcements this summer.
When questioned about Chelsea’s recent spending spree and comparing it to Liverpool’s mostly quiet summer, Klopp was quick to defend Liverpool’s transfer strategy.
“We reached the Champions League final two years ago, won it the following year and won the Premier League by being the club we are, we cannot change that overnight and say ‘now we want to behave like Chelsea’…. We always want to improve the squad but there are different ways – one way is to sign new players and the other way is to work together, improve the things you were good in and try to nullify the things you are not good in. That is football. No one wants to talk about training and only about signings.”
I think it shows the true signs of a good manager to improve the players you have rather then buy new players each window (Ed: Pep, you listening?). You cannot deny the results of Klopp’s methods in recent seasons. We did not sign any first team players last summer, and the same side that won the Champions League went on to win the premier league the following season. Perhaps Klopp improves the players he has again, and this can be more valuable then signing someone new.
Klopp was then later asked if fans should expect any new signings in this transfer window. He responded:
“I have been at Liverpool for nearly five years and if something is going to happen it will happen. There are so many rumours in the newspapers and it is funny when we read our name…. We were quite good with this in the past by staying calm and we made the right decisions, whether that be keeping the same group or bringing someone in for a specific position.”
Personally, I take away something specific from the last two quotes. Klopp says if something is going to happen it will happen. If we look at the past Liverpool transfers, Liverpool often move quickly to get business done. Players like Virgil Van Dijk and Minimino were announced before the winter window even opened. I think Klopp’s comments can be taken as if Liverpool were going to sign someone, they would have done it already.
Obviously this is not what anyone wants to hear, myself included. It is only a theory, possibly as ridiculous or on point as my conspiracy theory above. Time will tell!
I’m Jordan Gerrard and as always, I thank you for reading!
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