Transfer gossip: Liverpool eyeing West Ham star as part of Klopp’s next rebuild project

Ian Watson
Nayef Aguerd of West Ham United celebrates after scoring against Chelsea.
Nayef Aguerd is being watched by Liverpool and Manchester City.

Liverpool are said to be watching Nayef Aguerd this season as they look to remodel their defence. But Manchester City are also monitoring the West Ham centre-back…

 

LIVERPOOL, CITY EYE HAMMERS DEFENDER
Jurgen Klopp spent this summer rebuilding his midfield. Next summer, the Liverpool manager intends to get to work on his defence.

Of the Reds’ four central defenders, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are both 32; Joe Gomez is 26 but not fancied much; and Ibrahima Konate has struggled with injuries since moving to Anfield.

So Liverpool are on the hunt for centre-backs and the focus of their search currently centres on West Ham.

The Sun says Nayef Aguerd ‘will be high on the list’ as he continues to impress in the Hammers’ backline after regaining fitness following an injury sustained immediately after moving to east London from Rennes for £30million last summer.

The report suggests Liverpool could face competition from Manchester City for the Morocco international but Pep Guardiola’s need is far less pressing.

 

PREM TRIO GET BARELLA BOOST
Liverpool were tentatively linked with Nicolo Barella this summer while he was scouring Europe for midfielders. They were not the only club keen on the Italy international…

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea and Newcastle, like Liverpool, had approaches rejected by Inter Milan for Barella.

But they might have more joy if they try again next year. Apparently, Barella might be up for grabs next summer with Inter willing to sell for around £77million.

 

PSG MIDFIELDERS ON THE MOVE
Chelsea were said to be interested in Barella’s Italy team-mate Marco Verratti amid their summer trolley dash, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich also reported to have tried to sign the PSG midfielder – but they can’t have tried very hard.

Verratti has been available for sale all summer but PSG did not receive an offer that met their valuation of the 30-tear-old. Until now.

Fabrizio Romano says Al-Arabi have plonked £38.7million on PSG’s table and they are now set to take Verratti back to Qatar with them. The midfielder is due in Doha today to complete a medical and complete his move after more than a decade in Paris.

Verratti could be followed to Qatar by Julian Draxler. The Germany international was all set to join Al-Ahli but L’Equipe says the 29-year-old is still mulling over the move amid family concerns. The deal is by no means dead, however, and Draxler may yet head to Doha.

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