Liverpool link with Porto left-back

Liverpool have been linked with another left back with Porto's Rafa Soares the latest man in the frame.

Strengthening a position where James Milner filled in impressively last year is on the wish list at Anfield this season with Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon originally high on the list of possibles.

But with the 17-year-old expected to stay in London, with a switch to Spurs favoured, the Reds have had to cast their net further afield.

Soares has spoken highly of Liverpool although he is also hopeful of making a break through at Porto, where he has not made a first team appearance yet.

Instead he spent last year on loan at Rio Ave, whom he helped to a seventh placed finish in Portugal's Primeira Liga, making 32 league appearances and 38 in total. He also collected three goals and five assists.

The 22-year-old came through the youth system at Porto, is a Portuguese youth international and also spent time on loan at second tier Coimbra at the start of 2016.

"I know I've been followed by English clubs especially after our campaign," Soares told Omnisport.

"Liverpool are a great club and to be linked is an enormous honour for me. I followed Liverpool from a young age and I shiver every time I listen to You'll Never Walk Alone, it's unique!

"Liverpool are famous and popular in Portugal where people value the history of a club. I'm naturally flattered, but I'm a Porto player and focused on succeeding here."

Soares also spoke about his desire to impress new Porto coach Sergio Conceicao who took over in June.

"My main goal is to establish myself and get first-team football. I feel ready and confident that after my last season I will be given a chance.

"I keep my feet on the ground and focus on climbing my way up one step at a time. Fans support and trust me to become a symbol of the club, as I have been here for over 10 years and feel Porto in my bones.

"In 2015-16 it was rumoured Conceicao wanted me to join him in Vitoria Guimaraes – where he was coach at the time – which may mean he trusts and believes in me."

Porto though recently became the only club to be punished by UEFA for a breach of Financial Fair Play rules this year.

The club, runners-up to Benfica in the league and knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus in the last 16, agreed a four-year settlement deal which includes a 700,000 euros fine (possibly rising to 2.2m euros) and a restriction on their Champions League squad from next season.

Source: Liverpool Echo

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool and Chelsea to battle for Porto starlet

Liverpool and Chelsea will face off for Porto midfielder Ruben Neves, according to A Bola in Portugal.

Neves, 20, has already skippered his club and is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in Europe.

His deal has just two years remaining contains a buyout clause of €40million and according to the Portuguese outlet, he is already intimating that he wants to follow Andre Silva through the exit door.

Neves is currently on Under-21 duty with Portugal and both Chelsea and Liverpool are said to be keen on bringing him to the Premier League.

Porto are demanding a fee of around £30million for the highly-rated youngster, however, so a summer deal for Antonio Conte or Jurgen Klopp will not come cheap.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal expressed a strong interest in Neves last year but a move to England never materialised.

Any developments on his future are likely to be on hold for the coming weeks with Neves on international duty with Portugal's Under-21s.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Derby agree fee for Liverpool defender

Derby have agreed a fee to sign Andre Wisdom from Liverpool that could rise to £4.5m, Sky sources understand.

The Rams will pay more than £2m up front for the 24-year-old, who must now agree personal terms and pass a medical.

Derby saw an initial offer of £2m rejected earlier on Tuesday before talks continued.

Wisdom, who spent last season on loan at RB Salzburg in Austria, enjoyed a season on loan at Derby four years ago and he is keen to return, with Gary Rowett a key factor in that decision.

His former club Bradford are also due to benefit from the deal, as they agreed a 10 per cent sell on fee when Wisdom initially moved to Liverpool as a youngster.

Wisdom is set to become Derby's second signing of the summer following the transfer of Curtis Davies from Hull City.

Wisdom, who won an Austrian league and cup double with Salzburg, has not made a first-team appearance for Liverpool since featuring against Swansea City in September 2013.

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Liverpool target prefer Champions League team

Kylian Mbappe has revealed he is more "obsessed" with winning the Champions League than the Ballon d'Or.

The 18-year-old forward helped steer Monaco to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2016/17 season, attracting attention from Manchester United, who qualified for next season's competition after winning the Europa League.

Liverpool have entered the race to sign him, according to national newspapers, while Arsenal are also reportedly interested in a move for the France international, but the club's failure to finish in the Premier League's top four could ultimately cost them in any transfer after Mbappe identified his main goal.

"[The Champions League] is a dream, a competition that everyone wants to win and that only a minority can win - the most important are the titles," Mbappe told Telefoot.

"That would be much more of an obsession for me than the Ballon d'Or, for example. I want to touch the stars and, when you dream, you do not dream of playing the middle of the table or maintaining it."

Mbappe could line up against Premier League defenders on Tuesday night when France take on England in a friendly at the Stade de France.

Despite earning just three caps for France so far, the teenager - who scored 24 goals for Monaco last season - is already setting sights on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"[The World Cup] is the number one goal at international level," Mbappe added. "As I always say, dreams are good but it's up to me to work for them."

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool new signing fires Three Lions into Under-20 World Cup finals

Sheyi Ojo helped to create two goals as England reached the FIFA U20 World Cup final for the first time with a 3-1 victory over Italy on Thursday.

The Liverpool winger was brought on as a substitute nine minutes into the second half of the semi-final in South Korea, where Dominic Solanke – who has agreed terms to join the Reds on July 1 – struck the first and third for his country.


England trailed when Ojo entered the action and the 19-year-old had already hit a post before his cross forged a chance for Solanke to equalise from close range.

Another delivery from Ojo led to the second goal for the Young Lions, converted by Ademola Lookman, and Solanke sealed their comeback win in the 88th minute.

Reds midfielder Ovie Ejaria was an unused substitute.

England will now face Venezuela in the tournament’s final on Sunday, to be played at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

Video credits to PlayWire & Footytube.

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Liverpool legend backs Klopp to sign Bundesliga star

Liverpool look set to bolster their attacking options this summer.

Liverpool have been linked with Sporting Lisbon's Gelson Martins and Roma wide man Mohamed Salah.

But Nicol's reckons Costa should be a top target.

"I'll take him at Liverpool absolutely," he told ESPN FC.

Jurgen Klopp's shown he can sort out young players so absolutely.

"The guy's got ability, no question. Considering the quality he's got and he's not quite matured yet, I'm sure most coaches think they can turn young players around.

"I think he would be a good signing for Liverpool."

European football expert Raphael Honigstein says the Bundesliga champions will be willing to let him leave the Allianz Arena.

Costa immediately impressed at Bayern Munich having switched from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015, but has since struggled to nail down a regular starting place under Carlo Ancelotti.

The 26-year-old Brazil international scored seven goals and provided nine assists in all competitions over the past season.

With his speed and versatility, he would certainly fit the bill regarding Klopp's requirements.

German news outlet Bild have stated Liverpool are tracking the £35million-rated Costa, but they're not alone.

Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United and, inevitably, Tottenham Hotspur are among those also being linked.

Image credits to Getty Images.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool end van Dijk chase

Liverpool Football Club would like to put on record our regret over recent media speculation regarding Southampton Football Club and player transfers between the two clubs.

We apologise to the owner, board of directors and fans of Southampton for any misunderstanding regarding Virgil van Dijk.

We respect Southampton's position and can confirm we have ended any interest in the player.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

Image credits to Getty.

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The Saints add more twist into Liverpool transfer target

Southampton have hiked up their asking price for Liverpool transfer target Virgil van Dijk to £75million, reports say.

That is after the Saints reacted furiously to Liverpool’s pursuit of their captain which lead to the club reporting the Reds to the Premier League.

Liverpool’s approach for Van Dijk is now being looked at by the Premier League, but there is no official investigation as of yet.

Van Dijk has made Liverpool his first-choice destination after rejecting interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Liverpool are still confident they can seal the deal, but Southampton have informed them of a major change to Van Dijk’s price tag.

Southampton were initially asking for a fee between £50million and £60million, but now want a figure closer to £75million.

It is potentially a huge blow to Liverpool, but the Reds are hopeful Van Dijk’s influence can help turn back the tide in their favour.

Reports that Jurgen Klopp met personally with Van Dijk have angered Southampton and prompted them to contact the Premier League.

Van Dijk would be by far the most expensive defender in history should Liverpool pay £75million for his services.

The Netherlands international is Klopp’s No.1 target as he looks to sure up a consistently fragile defence.

The Liverpool Echo claim Southampton will make it as difficult as possible for Liverpool to sign their skipper.

Southampton want a bidding war and will encourage Chelsea, Arsenal and City to revive their interest.

Liverpool have a long history of raiding Southampton for their best players with Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne all former Saints.

Pictures credits to GETTY.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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