LIVERPOOL finally broke their Premier League drought last season but saw their title defence brutally dismantled by a spate of horror injuries and shock loss of confidence in 2020-21.
Jurgen Klopp won’t be panicking this summer, though.
After all, the German masterminded his first-ever win at Old Trafford with a thumping 4-2 victory over Manchester United on Thursday night with Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams as his centre-backs.
With a host of star names, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson still to return from injury, Liverpool will unquestionably be stronger in 2021-22.
But that won’t stop Klopp from assessing his options in the transfer market.
The likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have long been linked with big-money moves abroad.
And Mane could finally jump ship after being dropped for the win over United in the 11th hour before snubbing Klopp after the game amid what he admitted was his ‘worst season’.
Diogo Jota would be the obvious choice to replace him should he leave, but Liverpool are looking at attacking options this summer, with Roberto Firmino also enduring a tricky campaign despite his two goals on Thursday.
While Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the dream duo, the Reds face incredible competition for the superstar strikers, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid all hovering for one or both.
The Reds have also been linked with more attainable targets, such as Lyon’s red-hot, former Man Utd star Memphis Depay, 27.
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Liverpool have been tipped with a move for former striker Luis Suarez, 34, who is believed to have fallen out with Diego Simeone, dreaming of a move back to Anfield where he enjoyed three-and-a-half incredible seasons.
But for now, Klopp’s focus is on midfield, with the German bracing himself for the loss of key man Georginio Wijnaldum.
The Dutch ace helped Liverpool win the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League but is out of contract this summer and has been linked with a free move to Barcelona.
And the Reds are targeting Brighton’s in-demand star Yves Bissouma and Udinese ace Rodrigo De Paul to replace him to partner Henderson and Fabinho in a star-studded midfield trio.
In defence, Klopp will be buoyed by the return of superstars Van Dijk and Gomez – both of him suffered season-ending injuries early in the campaign.
Ozan Kabak is expected to make his loan move permanent, but Joel Matip could finally be on his way out of Anfield after yet another injury.
Reports claim Liverpool are already agreed to sign RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate, 21, in a £34m deal to add some much needed first-team quality.
The Reds could also look to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Adrian and provide back-up to Alisson.
Trabzonspor stopper Ugurcan Cakir has been linked, although Borussia Dortmund are also in the running to sign him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
