Liverpool ready to chase £50m summer transfer target again as Chelsea line up stunning striker options
A roundup of some of the latest Premier League transfer rumours from this week so far.
Following the news that the Premier League could introduce a new Deadline Day to the summer transfer window, we’ve taken a look at some of the latest headlines on the rumour mill.
Liverpool summer target ‘remains’ despite no change
Liverpool had a quiet summer window but were linked with a number of big names, suggesting they could be in for an interesting January and almost certainly a busy end-of-season rush. One of the main names on the Reds’ radar was Martín Zubimendi, and at one point, he became the main focus of their pursuits.
However, after the midfielder opted to stay at boyhood club Real Sociedad, talks collapsed and their overall midfield chase ended. Fabrizio Romano has since reported though, that Liverpool are still interested in signing Zubimendi.
Speaking on his latest YouTube video, the transfer expert said: “Liverpool tried in the summer in every way, including sending [Stefan] Bajcetic on loan. They were prepared to pay the release clause, but the player wanted to stay at Real Sociedad. Zubimendi remains a player of interest for Liverpool. The board, the directors, the manager approved Zubimendi as a target.”
Despite their lingering interest, Liverpool ‘don’t feel anything has changed’ with Zubimendi’s status.
The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool were determined to sign Zubimendi over the summer and their pursuit came incredibly close. As their leading target, it’s clear to see why the Reds would still be interested in bringing the midfielder in. However, if ‘nothing has changed’ regarding his current situation at Real Sociedad, it’s unlikely Liverpool will be successful in another attempted pursuit.
Chelsea have back-up trio for forward target
Chelsea were one of the clubs keen on signing Victor Osimhen over the summer but were unable to register a deal. Instead, the in-demand forward who notched 17 goals and four assists last season, has joined Galatasaray on loan. Despite his switch, CaughtOffside has reported that Chelsea have not changed their mind on attempting to sign Osimhen, even with Nicolas Jackson’s form.
The Blues are ‘still in contact’ with the 25-year-old but while it remains to be seen if they will be able to get a deal across the line, they have identified three back-up options. Viktor Gyökeres, Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Šeško are all on Chelsea’s list and are being ‘monitored closely’.
The 3AM Verdict: Let’s be honest, the Blues made rather a pig’s ear of their summer pursuit for a striker, leaving it far too late to try and get Victor Osimhen over the line. The options named would all likely cost an arm and a leg, even more so when their club’s are faced with the proposition of losing a vital goal-scorer in January. If Chelsea get to the next transfer window and Jackson is still banging the goals in, they could well be better off sticking with the Senegal international, before reassessing their options at the end of the season. But since when did the current Blues ownership operate with a degree of common sense?