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!
Saturday’s game against London side Crystal Palace was like an early Christmas present. Santa stuffed our stocking with a seven-nil thrashing of a side most pundits believed were going to give us trouble. It will remain as Liverpool’s highest scoring game in the Premier League era, and puts us firmly top of the table at Christmas. Put that under your tree, Jose Mourinho!
The winter transfer window is only a few weeks away and it is time I shoveled the snow off the transfer window driveway allowing you access to the world outside. I have lived in Los Angeles all my life, and as such I have never shoveled even a drop of snow. But I am great with transfer rumors, so just call me Mr. Plow.
For once, in what feels like months, I can talk to you about players being linked with Liverpool that are not center backs! OK… there might be one center back in there, but he is Brazilian and we all know how much Liverpool fans enjoy Brazilians. Especially after Bobby Danger (Firmino) put two more goals on his account and Fabinho and Alisson kept a clean sheet this weekend. There has been no confirmation or news on Georginio Wijnaldum leaving or staying, but we are already being linked with his potential replacements.
Get ready for a shovels worth of transfer rumors in this week’s article of the American Gerrard. That name again is Mr. Plow!
Desperado for Renato
French news outlet Le10Sport are claiming that Liverpool are interested in replacing Georginio Wijnaldum with Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches. Barcelona are the rumored favorites to sign Wijnaldum at the end of the season and could even attempt to agree a deal in January. Wijnaldum has not currently agreed an extension to his contract at Liverpool that expires at the conclusion of the current season in 2021. Supposedly Lille star Sanches has becomes Klopp’s most-wanted target as a replacement.
The former Bayern and Swansea player has improved his fortunes with Lille in Ligue 1 and is now being watched by Liverpool according to Le10Sport. Still just 23, the central midfielder could be viewed as an heir to Georginio Wijnaldum.
Sanches has managed to rebuild his career in France after enduring a difficult spell after leaving Benfica for Bayern Munich in Germany in May 2016.
Sanches had an unsuccessful spell on loan at Swansea City in 2017/18 and failed to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League. In Germany he only made 16 starts during his three years as a Bayern player.
The Portugal international previously struggled during his loan stint with Swansea City but his performances over the past two seasons have English clubs ready to offer him a second chance.
The latest unconfirmed and sketchy rumors are claiming Liverpool have struck an agreement with Lille over a future deal for Renato Sanches. According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Reds have “found an agreement” with Lille over a deal for Sanches, who is valued at around $24 million by the Ligue 1 side.
It is actually worth mentioning Lille are in the midst of a financial crisis caused by the pandemic. The collapse of the French league’s TV deal with Mediapro, and overall years of reported financial losses have put the team in a state of financial uncertainty,
This could give Liverpool a boost if they want to try and take advantage of the situation and press ahead with a deal for Sanches, who joined Lille in the summer of 2019 from Bayern Munich.
I follow these things, transfer rumors, so I know in the past Klopp has come out as an admirer of Renato Sanches. I also know Klopp and Michael Edwards have a bit of experience getting the best out of players who previously flopped in England (cough cough Mo Salah cough cough). If Sanches was a legit player Liverpool were interested in and we signed him then I would trust in the club’s decisions.
At this time I do not think we are looking at signing Renato Sanches. I will probably end up repeating myself a few times here but I do not think Liverpool will sign anyone in January. Unless something drastic happens with Wijnaldum I do not see his replacement coming in until the summer.
Au Revoir, Origi
The newest rumors this week are linking Divock Origi with a move away from Liverpool. Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are keeping a close eye on Divock Origi ahead of the January transfer window, according to both James Pearce/The Athletic and Daily Mail.
Liverpool are prepared to listen to offers for Divock Origi in the January transfer window, report James Pearce and Tim Spiers. The reported price is in the region of $25 million. Jurgen Klopp could allow Origi to depart either permanently or on loan after falling behind Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino in the Liverpool pecking order. The 25-year-old striker has played only seven minutes of Premier League football so far this season. Origi will need regular action in the first team if he’s going to fight for a place in Belgium’s squad ahead of next summer’s Euros.
Newcastle United, Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be interested but Wolves are currently the front runners.
Wolves have a desperate need for a striker after Raul Jimenez fractured his skull in a horrific injury at Arsenal this season. His return date at this time is still unknown and one might argue he might never be the same. Wolves have had an interest in Origi for a few seasons and it makes complete sense for them to make a move now. They previously tried to sign Origi in the summer of 2018. Now that Jimenez is likely to be sidelined for a while, Nuno Espirto Santo’s top priority in January is to sign a striker to add goals to a team which has only scored 13 times in 13 games this season.
Origi looks to be the perfect replacement. The rumors are saying Wolves are interested they just have yet to decide whether they would prefer a short term loan for the rest of the season to temporarily replace Jimenez, or a loan with an option to buy.
A permanent deal is not being ruled out, but supposedly Wolves do not have a huge budget to work with having spent so much in the summer, including $47 million on Fabio Silva. Silva is the first team squad’s only recognized striker, but has very little Premier League experience.
Origi has recorded his name in Liverpool history, and we can always look back at his contributions to this great club with a smile. That being said, I think it would be in everyone’s best interest to let Origi go find first team football somewhere else. Personally, I have always wanted to see him play as the first choice striker for a mid table Premier League side.
Origi does not fit in the system we play with. He is not quick enough or good enough at passing to play backup to our front three. He is more of an out and out striker as opposed to a false nine like Bobby Firmino. I think in a team with tactics that suit his style he might look a better player and Wolves might just be that side. Liverpool seem to have a great trading relationship with Wolves. This is a deal I could see happening. If not a permanent deal, then at the very least a loan to ensure Origi has a chance at a call up for Belgium.
I think Wolves will take their time to see this deal through. They will wait until they have a better understanding on the situation with Jimenez before they make any moves.
New Years Yves
ESPN are reporting Liverpool are keen on 24 year old Yves Bissouma ahead of the winter transfer window.
It is claimed that Jurgen Klopp has identified the Brighton midfielder as another potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum.
A move for the $40 million-rated Mali international may be a bit tricky with hated rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and French side Monaco also said to be interested in the Brighton midfielder. Bissouma joined Brighton from Lille in 2018 for a fee in the region of $20 million. After some impressive performances in the Premier League, his market value has doubled.
In all honesty, Bissouma is not really a player I knew too much about so I decided to do some research to uncover why Klopp could be so keen. Bissouma often features on the pitch for Brighton as a central or defensive midfielder not unlike Wijnaldum for Liverpool. When I started comparing him to Wijnaldum he had some promising numbers in certain areas but overall he does not seem like an ideal replacement for Wijnaldum.
Opta shows Bissouma has created eight chances in the last two seasons compared to Wijnaldum’s 24. Bissouma has scored two goals compared to Wijnaldum’s five. You could argue that Wijnaldum has played more games then Bissouma, but overall Wijnaldum seems to contribute more offensively.
This season, Bissouma has made 40 tackles to Wijnaldum’s 11, as well as winning 73 of his 153 duels contested compared to Wijnaldum’s 35 of 64 contested. Could Liverpool’s interest in Bissouma be seen as a backup defensive midfield option or a ball winning player in the middle of the park and not necessarily a direct replacement for Wijnaldum? Liverpool have many attack-minded midfield options, and perhaps Bissouma is seen as someone who could bring something new to the team.
I do not really think Liverpool are interested in Bissouma. I do not think Liverpool will sign anyone in the winter transfer window, unfortunately. If they did, it would depend on players leaving the club in January. If no one leaves, they probably will not spend a dime. There is even still a belief Wijnaldum may sign another contract before Barca swoops in.
An Eye on Ibanez
At this point everyone in football knows Liverpool needs a center back. In case you just became a fan last week or have spent the last few months on the international space station, Liverpool lost both first choice center backs Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk to potentially season-long injuries.
Quite a few players have been touted as potential signings to fill the gap over the last few months. AS Roma Live suggests that the Reds have now joined domestic rivals Tottenham and Leicester in the race to sign Brazilian center back Roger Ibanez.
Ibanez is only 22 years old, and is considered one of the most promising young defenders in Serie A. He first made a name for himself while playing with Atalanta after joining the Italian side in January 2019. He moved to Roma a year later in 2020 on loan with an option for a permanent deal if a few preset conditions are met.
The Brazilian made ten appearances last season for Roma, and has already played in 12 league games this time around keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Those close to Ibanez say he idolizes Chelsea defender and fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva. Ibanez often draws comparisons to Thiago Silva. Both players are versatile, which explains Jurgen Klopp’s supposed interest in Ibanez,
Technically, Ibanez is still an Atalanta player, but Roma have already agreed a deal to sign Ibanez for a fee in the region of $10 million. Roma will then expect around $46 million for the Brazilian. Sounds like good business for them. Atalanta must be kicking themselves.
PSG are known admirers with the Ligue 1 Champions looking for a long term replacement for Thiago Silva. The rumor is that PSG have made Ibanez their top target and with Ibanez growing up idolizing Thiago Silva it seems very likely he would prefer a move to follow in his foot steps.
However, due to the breakdown of the multi billion-dollar TV contract in Ligue 1, PSG are supposedly finding themselves in a financial crisis. So, they might not be willing to spend the money Roma expects for Ibanez.
I find it hard to believe super rich PSG will have trouble affording Ibanez even with the Pandemic. As much as I would like Liverpool to sign Ibanez, I just do not see it happening. Liverpool will face stiff competition for his signing.
Ibanez League Stats 2020-2021 (Serie A) So far
Appearances: 12
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Accurate Passes: 571 (87%)
Tackles Succeeded: 13 (52%)
Last Man Tackle: 1
Blocked shots: 2
Cleared off the line: 0
Clearances: 40
Headed Clearances: 22
Interceptions: 30
Errors leading to goal: 0
Winter Window
Do I expect any big name signings this winter? Will we panic buy another center back? Will Georginio Wijnaldum be replaced?
Personally, I doubt any of those things will happen. I have to repeat that I believe Liverpool’s potential transfer activity depends on any outgoings.
Gini will likely not leave until the end of the season, so there is really no need to buy his replacement now. The message coming from Klopp is that he is happy with the progress made by Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips. He will use them for the rest of the season or until Virgil Van Dijk returns. Which could be sooner then everyone thought… everyone but me.
If Liverpool attempted to purchase a defender in January, most teams know the situation with Van Dijk and Gomez, and will assume Liverpool are desperate. This will not lead to a good price. Michael Edwards is a shrewd businessman and he will not panic buy or overpay for a player. This will make any deals during January very difficult but not impossible.
Now that the transfer window is almost upon us, expect more frequent transfer news from me covering our beloved Liverpool football club for American Scouser. As the rumors start to come down, I will be there to clear a path through the crap. So like an ice powered Disney Princess always says, “Let it Snow!”
I am Jordan Gerrard and as always I thank you for reading!