Liverpool transfer priorities take ‘surprise twist’ as Klopp prepares for £70m sale

Joe Williams
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold follows play

Liverpool make signing a new senior right-back a priority this summer with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role in the side changing, according to reports.

The Reds have been poor this season with Klopp’s side currently sitting eighth in the Premier League with an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Their 6-1 victory over Leeds United on Monday night was much more like the Liverpool of last season and saw them close the gap on fourth-placed Newcastle to nine points.

Liverpool’s drop off this season has been all the more shocking after coming just a couple of matches away from winning an unprecedented Quadruple last term.

Jurgen Klopp’s midfield have taken the brunt of the criticism from supporters, former players and pundits with Liverpool likely to bring in one or two new midfielders in the summer transfer window.

That is known to be their main priority for the summer market but Football Insider claim that Liverpool have now ‘turned their attention to signing a new senior right-back’.

The report describes it as a ‘surprise twist’ after Liverpool have used ‘longstanding first choice right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in an inverted role over the last two matches that sees him push into midfield’.

It is understood that Klopp plans on using the England international ‘in the midfield more often’ moving forward and the Liverpool boss ‘feels the side need to add another full-back in order to do that’.

Alexander-Arnold has come in for a lot of criticism in recent seasons for his defensive displays and that has been amplified this term with the Liverpool right-back contributing fewer assists.

But Barcelona definitely aren’t worried about the criticism with Spanish publication Nacional claiming that signing a new right-back is a ‘priority objective’ for the Catalan giants.

‘Ronald Araujo , Sergi Roberto and even Jules Kounde’ have been used at right-back this season for Barca and Xavi is on the lookout for a ‘pure right-back’ to take the role.

And it is understood that Barcelona have ‘started movements to try to incorporate’ Alexander-Arnold into their team for next season with the La Liga leaders able to offer the defender Champions League football.

The report admits a deal will be ‘complicated’ for Barcelona to get over the line with Liverpool expected to demand €80m (£70m) for the England international.

Barca will be hoping they drop their valuation and that Liverpool will need to ‘sell several important pieces’ in order to fund the rebuild of their squad under Klopp.

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