We are likely going to be involved in a busy transfer market come the summer, if reports that Richarlison and Idrissa Gana Gueye are wanted elsewhere prove true, but, closer to home, Marcel Brands will need to strengthen our squad.
That’s why the Liverpool Echo have compiled a list of potential bargain buys that we could target. However their suggestions are very wide of the mark.
RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner, first of all, is top of their transfer list, as the 23-year-old hitman will enter the final year of his contract at the close of the season.
He would be a dream signing, there is no doubt in that, but there is a lot of doubt in anyone’s chances of signing the VfB Stuttgart product ‘on the cheap’, especially when Bayern Munich are reportedly already in talks with Leipzig over his transfer having reached an agreement with the £58.5million-rated ace.
Next on the Liverpool Echo’s bargain buy shortlist is Thorgan Hazard, a winger who, like Werner, will see his contract lapse in 2020.
And, like Werner, Hazard will be anything but cheap despite the short spell left on his contract, with reports in Germany suggesting Borussia Monchengladbach will likely demand upwards of €30million (£25.6m) for his signature with Borussia Dortmund said to be on the Belgian’s case.
Allan Saint-Maximin also gets a shout in the Liverpool Echo’s article, after the 21-year-old’s impressive season for OGC Nice brought the prospect’s case to a wider audience.
That wider audience is one said to involve both Milan outfits, though, with AC looking at the France U21 international as an alternative to Richarlison, while Inter eye the 2020-free agent as an alternative to Toffees-linked Yacine Brahimi.
There are a few more realistic names suggested as potential bargain buys, as well, with the likes of Girona’s Pere Pons – a £6.75m-rated defensive midfielder – Eibar’s Joan Jordan – a £9m-rated midfielder – and Ex-Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu mentioned.
Watford, however, have the Spaniard tied down until 2023 and would not be keen to negotiate a reasonable price with us.