Gossip: Liverpool ‘offered’ fix; Arsenal ‘too timid’ over £45m man
Liverpool have been ‘offered’ a fix to their injury crisis, while Arsenal have been told they are ‘too timid’…
PLUGGING THE HOLES
Liverpool have been given the chance to sign Ezequiel Garay on a free transfer in the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain.
The Reds are currently struggling to keep their centre-backs fit with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez ruled out with serious injuries, while fit-again Joel Matip has been quite susceptible to injury himself, That has left them to rely on the likes of midfielder Fabinho, and inexperienced duo Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams to fill in.
The uncertainty has led to rumours that Liverpool will dip into the January transfer window for a quick fix. However, manager Jurgen Klopp claimed recently he had “no idea” whether the club would look to sign a centre-back at the next opportunity.
One name that has surfaced on Saturday is Garay’s. The Argentine was released by Valencia in the summer and is currently without a club having suffered a cruciate ligament injury in February. And Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness) claim that Liverpool and Barcelona have been ‘offered’ the chance to sign Garay as an ‘emergency resource’.
However, the serious injury he sustained earlier this year would likely count ‘against him’ as he seeks a new club.
ARSENAL TARGET STIRRING IT UP
A report has claimed that Arsenal failed to push hard enough as they tried to sign Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar in the summer.
The Frenchman has been a long-rumoured target for Arsenal after he caught the eye of clubs around Europe with his performances in the Champions League last season. Aouar played a pivotal role as Lyon reached the semi-finals with the Frenchman providing nine goals and ten assists in all competitions.
However, Aouar has struggled to replicate the same form this term with only two Ligue Un goals and one assist to his name. The 22-year-old failed to join his Lyon team-mates for the post-match warm down following their recent match against Angers, in which Aouar was left on the bench,
Due to that incident, L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) claim he will now miss the match with Reims this weekend after the club decided to punish Aouar, despite his claims that poor pitch conditions were the reason behind his refusal to warm down.
The squabble can only be good for potential suitors with the report touching on interest from Arsenal in the summer. L’Equipe says that Lyon didn’t receive a ‘firm offer’ in the last transfer window with Arsenal ‘too timid in their approach’.
Lyon were asking for a €50m (£45m) from the Gunners with Aouar now needing to regain his best form to ‘stir up’ fresh interest from his suitors.
AND THE REST…
Manchester United are being linked with another “new Lionel Messi,” this time in the shape of Velez Sarsfield’s Thiago Almada…Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc says he can see Erling Braut Haaland at the club “for a long time”…Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold says the scheduling of games this season “defies common sense”…Anderlecht centre-back Marco Kana says Liverpool would be his dream transfer move…Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs…Burnley forward Matej Vydra wants to leave Turf Moor to secure regular first-team football.