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 Euros are upon us, giving us a chance to watch some of our favorite Reds representing their national teams. The competition also sets the stage for Liverpool to be linked with a whole assortment of new promising additions. Anytime some underrated player scores a goal or makes an assist, they immediately find themselves the subject of any number of silly transfer rumors. Michael Edwards and the Liverpool transfer team will no doubt be keeping a close eye of some of their long admired targets and a few new ones too.
My father is English, so they are really the only team I can support during the Euros (although my mother is Italian, so if they win I might stumble onto that bandwagon). At the time of writing this (prior to their knockout round match against Germany), England’s overall performance has not really set the world aflame or inspired much confidence. By the time this article gets published, they could well be out of the tournament. Since I know it irritates a few of my fellow contributors at American Scouser, I am going to say “It is coming Home!”
Since the final is at Wembley in England, “it” will technically still be coming home regardless… at the very least for 90 minutes along the sideline.
A lot of my friends and family have been asking me when Liverpool will sign someone (else). The transfer window is open, and so far we have only added Konate. Rumors saying we would not be spending money this summer have been abundant – are they true?
Last summer, I told you Liverpool were waiting for the Champions League and Europa League competitions to end before making their moves, and I was right. Likewise, I am saying the same thing today about the International competitions currently taking place – the Euros and Copa America being the main ones. Liverpool are waiting for these tournaments to end before they make their moves. This should be a smart move, considering the potential for injuries this year resulting from the massive fixture congestion. Liverpool do not want to spend millions of dollars only for a new signing to suffer an injury before they even land in Liverpool. In theory at least, the players who get picked to represent their national teams are a cut above the rest. Accordingly, as Liverpool usually pick from the best players, waiting until international matches end is a logical approach.
Isak in Attack?
One player currently making a name for himself at the Euros is the towering speedster Alexander Isak. The Sweden international currently plays for Real Sociedad in La Liga, where he notched 17 goals and two assists in 34 appearances last season. Because of this, Liverpool, along with London duo Chelsea and Arsenal and Spanish giants Real Madrid have all been linked with an interest in Isak.
The main rumor going around right now is that Isak has a $70 million release clause in his contract with Sociedad.
However, Mr “Here we go” himself Fabrizio Romano has said that Sociedad want to keep Isak this summer and plan to sell him next year in 2022 instead. They apparently believe that Isak’s price will only go up with another season of football on his resume.
AS are claiming that Real Madrid are now the favorites to sign Isak if Sociedad do decide to cash in. Allegedly, Madrid have initiated contact with Isak’s representatives. Isak is represented by the Universal Sport Group agency, which also works with Luka Modric. Madrid only recently concluded another deal with the same agency, having successfully negotiated a new one-year deal for Modric.
Supposedly Real Madrid are trying to raise funds to buy Mbappe, but that does not rule out them going for Isak also, as a cheaper backup option in the case they can not afford Mbappe. I would love for Liverpool to sign Isak, but I think he may be out of Liverpool’s price range, at least for this year.
Is Coman Coming?
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy are reporting that Liverpool have made a $41.6 million bid for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman. Other reports from German publication Sport 1 have confirmed Liverpool’s interest in the 25 year old French international, but Bayern apparently want closer to $60 million.
Any deal is a nowhere near from being completed, mainly because new Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann is supposedly a fan of the winger. Nagelsmann apparently wants Coman to sign a contract extension, which would take him beyond his current deal that ends in 2023. The winger only turned 25 this month, but has already won league titles in three different countries for every senior team on which he’s played, with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern.
Coman has featured regularly for Bayern since moving from Juventus in 2015, but has been unable to tie down a permanent place in the starting 11, competing with the likes of Sane, Muller, and Gnabry for attacking positions. The 2020/21 season saw Coman make his most league starts for the club in a single season as he started 23 Bundesliga matches, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists. He also started seven matches in the Champions league, scoring three times. Manchester United were also credited with an interest in Coman last month, but most likely lost interest with the impending arrival of Jadon Sancho (*allegedly – Ed.).
I am not as big of a believer of this transfer rumor as I am about others. It is hard for me to understand Coman’s motivation to come to Anfield and play back up to Mane or Salah. As I mentioned, he currently competes with Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry for a place in the Bayern side, so if he is going to leave Bayern I can only see it being for a team he would get to start for regularly.
Do We Need Domenico?
Gazzetta dello Sport are at it again, with another Liverpool rumor. This time it is Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi. The Reds are supposedly monitoring the 26-year-old’s performance at the Euros, with a potential bid being prepared. Transfermarkt values Berardi at $38 million.
Last season Berardi netted 17 goals and provided seven assists in just 30 Serie A appearances. His performances earned himself a place in Italy’s squad for Euro 2020. The 6-foot-tall forward has carried his fine form onto the pitch for his country, completing two assists in two games during the Group stage. He has quickly become one of Roberto Mancini’s main men in the group stage of the European Championship, and will likely feature if Italy continues to progress.
Berardi has scored 172 goals in 291 games for his boyhood club to date. At 26, the pacey Italian may think he has reached a glass ceiling with Sassuolo and it may be the right time to take the next step in his career. After his performances for Italy in the Euros, he very well may have a number of suitors. The Tottenham Hotspurs are also rumored to be interested in Berardi this summer, meaning Michael Edwards may have to move quickly in order to secure his man.
Sassuolo chief executive Giovanni Carnevali recently admitted he could not ensure Berardi would stay at the club.
“I cannot promise that Berardi will stay. It is not a question of money.” Believe it or not, Berardi actually was signed by Juventus back in 2014, but failed to make a single first team appearance. He was initially loaned back to Sassuolo before returning permanently in 2015. Perhaps this time he will be a bit more careful about where he goes.
I think this is one transfer where Liverpool are being linked with another flavor of the month and there is not any real credible interest from the Reds.
A Minute for Mbappe
Recent reports are indicating Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain that he wants to leave. Naturally, this led to claims that Liverpool are seriously interested in signing the French World Cup winner.
I feel like Mbappe could sign for Real Madrid next week and there would still be rumors linking him with a move to Liverpool. I have said repeatedly (and will repeat for good measure) that I do not think Liverpool will ever sign Mbappe. Maybe before the pandemic Fenway Sports Group may have had grand plans for a major signing of Mbappe’s caliber, but now it is difficult for me to believe we would spend that type of money. Do not just take my word for it: Fabrizio Romano says there is currently no truth to any rumors linking Liverpool with a move for Mbappe.
If you want to grasp at straws and hope beyond hope, the fact remains that Mbappe will be out of contract in June 2022. Then, he could be available to leave PSG on a free transfer. As early as January 2022, Mbappe could sign a pre-contract with a foreign club.
Liverpool may not be able to afford Mbappe’s wages, but apparently they have at least shown an interest. This is according to a report from Spanish daily Marca, who claim that Liverpool made contact with Mbappe’s representatives this summer. PSG have been pretty adamant that they will not be selling Mbappe this summer, and they go further to claim that he will not be leaving at the end of next season, either.
PSG is a good team, but the French league is not as competitive as the other leagues in Europe. If Mbappe wants to truly be considered the successor to Ronaldo or Messi, he needs to move to another league. In past articles, I explained how Mbappe has basically maintained his love for Real Madrid throughout his career. He has explained it is his dream to play for Real Madrid and that Zidane is his idol. Now that Zidane has left Madrid, PSG should sell Mauricio Pochettino back to Spurs and hire Zidane – in my opinion, that might be their only hope to keep Mbappe.
I am Jordan Gerrard and as always I thank you for reading!
