Liverpool transfer boost as previously ‘impossible’ £69m deal for Fabinho replacement ‘now possible’

It will now be possible for Liverpool to buy Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid this summer, according to reports in Spain.

The Reds brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively after Jurgen Klopp saw James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave on free transfers.

But unexpected interest in a number of their players from Saudi Arabia has seen Jordan Henderson and Fabinho move to the Middle East, leaving Jurgen Klopp to search for another couple of midfielders.

Romeo Lavia seems to be his top target to fill one of the places in his squad with Liverpool having their latest offer for the Southampton midfielder turned down as the Saints hold out for their £50m valuation.

And a move for long-term target Tchouameni could now be on the cards this summer with Spanish publication Nacional insisting that the ‘impossible sale is now possible’ at Real Madrid.

Los Blancos now have an ‘obligation’ to sell some of their squad players with the Spaniards needing to ‘leave income in the coffers’ for a possible purchase of Kylian Mbappe.

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The report adds that ‘among the candidates to pack their bags and be the sacrifice’ is France international Tchouameni despite being in ‘Carlo Ancelotti’s plans’.

It is understood that the ‘reality’ is that ‘he is a totally expendable piece’ with Real Madrid boosting their midfield ranks this summer.

And the La Liga giants will ‘open the doors to him in case a sufficiently attractive offer arrives’ and they ‘will not sit down to negotiate for a figure of less than €80m’.

Tchouameni’s two ‘options’ are Liverpool and Bayern Munich and the Reds, who ‘have thought of him as Fabinho’s successor’, are set to ‘present a formal offer to Madrid really soon’.

There has been quite a bit of change at Liverpool this summer but former winger Steve McManaman reckons Klopp’s side can challenge for the Premier League title this season.

“I believe Liverpool could challenge,”McManaman told Betfred. “If you go back to last season, they were full of injuries for a large period of the campaign, which was very disappointing, but they finished the season off very well and in good form, so I don’t see why they can’t challenge.

“The forward line should be a lot fitter next season with Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota both being back from injury and I expect Darwin Núñez to improve as well.

“The main thing for Liverpool is keeping their key players fit, as the injuries in the early part of last season really affected them and you can’t have that if you’re attempting to mount a title challenge. I can see Liverpool challenging and by looking at other club’s transfer business at the minute, you’d expect Arsenal to have a go as well.

“They’ve brought in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, three positions that they needed to strengthen in this summer and they’ve got their business done early. You don’t know what’s happened at Chelsea and despite the appointment of a wonderful manager in Mauricio Pochettino, with the merry-go-round of players coming in and going out, it just has to cause disruption.

“Manchester United have brought Mason Mount in, but we’re all waiting to see if they buy a striker and a goalkeeper. Before we can predict who’s going to challenge for the title, we need to see what all the clubs do transfer-wise between now and the start of the season, as we can only take things on face value at the moment.

“Liverpool have already brought in two midfielders and we know Trent Alexander-Arnold can play there too, so they could potentially bring in another right-back this summer as well. Manchester City and Arsenal look as if they’re the two most stable teams at the moment. They’re the two clubs with least to answer at this moment in time.”