One Liverpool ace is supposedly being lined up for a $54m transfer to Saudi Arabia while Arsenal is set to go back for a long-term target it has bid for before.
Liverpool could move four points clear of Manchester City and five clear of Arsenal before the pair play this weekend. The Reds are first of the title contenders to play, facing Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Manchester City hosts Manchester United on Sunday before Arsenal visits Sheffield United on Monday. While both of those sides would be expected to win their matches, the Reds can only do their job first. Last season, this fixture ended in a 1-0 victory for Nottingham Forest, though that was far from the only poor away performance from Jürgen Klopp’s side back then.
Ahead of this game, Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai are both set to return to the Liverpool squad — though it remains to be seen if either is ready enough to start. Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, should be back in contention next week, which is just in time for Manchester City to come to Anfield.
There is plenty else going on around the league and beyond, though. Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the Premier League and across the continent to see what’s going on at Liverpool’s rivals.
Liverpool ace ‘has Saudi Arabia offer’
According to the Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, Liverpool is planning contract talks with captain Virgil van Dijk at the end of the season. However, a club in the Saudi Pro League is preparing an offer worth $54m (£43m/€50m) for the Dutchman.
It is not stated which club in the Middle East might be keen but that is not unusual. Rather than a specific club in Saudi Arabia being lined up for strengthening, it has often been the case that certain players have been targeted and their destination has been worked out after their interest has been gauged.
Liverpool’s home shirt for the 2023/2024 campaign pays homage to Bill Shankly and the legendary Reds manager’s final season in charge at Anfield. The Nike shirt features a bright red design with a bold white contrast on the colour and cuffs.
There is no reason for Liverpool to cash in on Van Dijk at any price, let alone one as small as that. In any case, he has shown no signs of wanting to leave Anfield having only just lifted his first trophy as captain.
Far more likely is that Van Dijk will pen a new deal. Before that, though, it is likely that Liverpool will need to appoint a new sporting director and get a new manager in place.
Currently in a title race with Liverpool, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is making plans for the summer. Having previously made a couple of bids for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, the Gunners are supposedly set to go back in for him.
The Daily Mail reports that Luiz could be sold by Aston Villa to fund other signings, even if Unai Emery guides the MIdlands outfit into the Champions League. The same report outlines that Jacob Ramsay has been looked at by Newcastle United.
Liverpool.com says: Luiz has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past but he would be very expensive. If Arsenal does sign the 25-year-old former Manchester City man, it would be for more than four times the $19m (£15m/€18m) Villa paid to bring him in.
