Jurgen Klopp joked Liverpool were "lucky" with their summer transfer dealings after failed moves to sign Chelsea duo Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

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• Liverpool failed to sign Caicedo and Lavia
• Midfielders went to Chelsea instead
• Klopp jokes the Reds got "lucky" in the end

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool tried and failed to recruit Southampton talent Lavia and Brighton talisman Caicedo in the summer, with the midfield duo joining Chelsea for £58 million ($74m) and £115m ($144m) respectively. However, Lavia has been out injured with an ankle problem and Caicedo has underwhelmed in the centre of the park. Conversely, the Reds signed defensive midfielder Wataru Endo for just £16m and the Japanese international has proven to be a great purchase so far. Now, Klopp has had a bit of fun at Chelsea's expense with some cheeky comments.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on players, dwarfing the fees their rivals have spent, and yet they are still struggling to break free from being a mid-table side. They still do not look like a cohesive unit and their problems do not appear to be resolved quickly. Liverpool, on the other hand, are top of the Premier League and their revamped midfield, which also includes Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch, is firing on all cylinders despite not spending nearly as much as the Blues.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  Speaking at the Anfield Road Stand test event, Klopp said: “The summer we had, we had a few strange things happen in the transfer market but here, between us, I can say, ‘My god, were we lucky, eh?'. We didn’t know that in that moment and it didn’t feel like it in that moment, but yeah, I’m really happy that it worked out, but you never know before."

  He then joked: “We obviously realised that other central defensive midfielders don’t want to join Liverpool, you see what happens, and then we found [Wataru] Endo. He’s an exceptional player.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Since Todd Boehly took over at Stamford Bridge in 2022, Chelsea have spent more than £1b on transfer fees. However, their form in 2023 has been that of a relegated side, and recent stats put forward by show that they are the league's worst side this calendar year in terms of points-per-game.

Tottenham Hotspur have already acted quickly this summer to secure the signings of both Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison to help bolster Ange Postecoglou's squad, with chairman Daniel Levy having also wrapped up both Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro on permanent deals following their respective loan spells.

In the case of the latter man, the 23-year-old joined on loan from Sporting CP in January in a deal that included a £39m obligation to buy at the end of the season, with the Spaniard having been earmarked as the long-term solution for the Lilywhites at right wing-back.

The arrival of Postecoglou, however, is likely to see a shift to a flat back four, hence the possible concerns as to whether the one-time Manchester City asset can be deployed in a more orthodox right-back berth.

As football.london's Alasdair Gold wrote last term following the grim 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United last season, the 5 foot 8 ace 'doesn't look like a natural full-back', while The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare has revealed that is 'well known' that he is an 'excellent attacker but a questionable defender'.

As such, it is no surprise that the north Londoners are believed to be looking to the transfer market to find a possible alternative, with Tuttosport recently reporting that Levy and co are interested in signing Torino's Wilfried Singo, with the 22-year-old potentially available for a fee of just €12m (£10m) due to his expiring contract.

If Spurs are able to pull off a deal for the 6 foot 3 ace, it could allow the Premier League side to finally fill the void that was left behind by Kieran Trippier's exit back in 2019.

How good is Kieran Trippier?

There's no denying that Tottenham have endured issues at right-back since the Englishman moved on to Atletico Madrid on a £21.7m deal just over four years ago, with the likes of Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal failing to truly establish themselves in recent years.

In the case of Doherty, the Republic of Ireland international was moved on in January after making just 54 starts in all competitions following his arrival back in 2020, while Emerson was branded a "liability" by ex-Spurs man Jamie O'Hara last year amid his difficult start to life in England.

That duo seemingly proved unable to plug the gap that was left behind by Trippier, with the one-time Burnley ace having been part of the side that reached the Champions League final in 2019, having contributed 23 assists in 114 games for the club across all fronts from his right-sided berth.

Having returned to the Premier League at Newcastle United 18 months ago, the 32-year-old's all-round quality has been evident, as he finished fourth in the division in 2022/23 for big chances created, while also averaging three tackles and interceptions per game as part of the joint-best defence in the league.

Spurs are seemingly in need of their own version of the Bury-born gem, hence why Singo could be a dream addition, with the Ivory Coast international having been hailed as the "complete defender" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also lauded as a "baller" by Kulig, the towering titan – who registered five goals and assists in Serie A last term – can provide an attacking threat from the flanks as he ranks in the top 13% among his European peers for successful take-ons, while his defensive nous is shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 2% for aerial duels won.

Like Trippier – who has been described as a "defensive animal" by England boss Gareth Southgate – Singo is also rather "tenacious", according to Kulig, ensuring he proves to be a stern test for any opposition winger.

While it remains to be seen if Spurs will invest again in that department following Porro's capture, the Torino menace would no doubt be an ideal, bargain Trippier heir.

A new possible transfer target has emerged for German head coach Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to Foot Mercato, the Reds are one of the teams named as a potential suitor for Zenit attacker Malcom ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Premier League side 'appreciates his profile' and that the Brazilian forward is expected to move on from the Russian club over the coming months.

French giants Paris Saint-Germain were interested in signing the 26-year-old dynamo during the January transfer window and the player is said to be hoping that they come back in for his services this time around.

Liverpool have made two additions to their squad so far this summer as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have arrived to bolster their options in midfield, with this latest rumour suggesting that the attack could also be strengthened.

What happened to Malcom at Barcelona?

The Zenit winger joined Barcelona for an initial fee of €41m (£35m) in 2018 and only made six LaLiga starts, in which he plundered one goal to go along with two assists, as the exciting attacker failed to nail down a regular starting berth.

His disappointing debut campaign with the Spanish giants led to him joining his current club in the summer of 2019, where the two-cap Brazil international has been able to thrive on the pitch.

Malcom's incredible form for Zenit last season suggests that the potential is there for him, as a left-footed right winger, to be a dream alternative to Mohamed Salah for Klopp at Anfield.

There is no doubt that the Egypt international is the manager's star attacker as the former Chelsea man registered 19 goals and 12 assists in 37 Premier League starts, with no other Liverpool player able to match his tally in either statistic.

The 31-year-old superstar also topped the charts for league goals (23) and assists (13) for the Reds during the 2021/22 campaign, which highlights his importance to the side as their main attacking threat.

Malcom, whose season was described as "sensational" by journalist Graeme Bailey, showcased his quality with a staggering 23 goals and seven assists in 27 Premier Liga appearances last term.

The 26-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.95, which would have placed him top of the Liverpool squad, and created 2.3 chances per match for his teammates – a tally on Trent Alexander-Arnold (2.8) bettered for Klopp's men, which indicates that the former Bordeaux gem could be a terrific rotational player for the English giants.

Therefore, the £108k-per-week phenomenon has been a prolific scorer and creator for the Russian outfit, whilst also being able to deliver consistently exceptional performances from the right wing.

Given his struggles with Barcelona, it is hard to judge whether or not Malcom is capable of replicating his exceptional displays in a major European league. Although, the goalscoring whiz is five years older than he was at the time of the move to Spain, which could mean that the maturity is there for him to handle another big transfer this time around.

His outstanding contributions for Zenit in recent seasons suggest that the potential is there for him to be a delightful alternative option to Salah, for Klopp to use in cup competitions or as a rotation option in the Premier League, as a left-footed right winger who can score and create chances on a regular basis.

This is why Liverpool must take a calculated gamble on the former Barcelona prospect this summer with the hope that his performances translate to success in England.

West Ham United boss David Moyes is 'determined' to get the 'best out' of striker Gianluca Scamacca in 2023/24 and will try to keep hold of the Italy international, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Is Gianluca Scamacca leaving West Ham United?

According to Calciomercato, Scamacca has attracted interest from Roma and talks are set to take place between both parties over the potential of the 24-year-old returning to Serie A.

Scamacca is believed only to want to play for Roma over other suitors keen on offering him an escape route from the London Stadium and has given his word to the Giallorossi that he is keen to ply his trade at the Stadio Olimpico.

Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Juventus have sounded out Scamacca and asked for information regarding the £90k-a-week ace to protect themselves against the possibility of striker Dusan Vlahovic leaving the club this summer.

AC Milan are also on the trail of the former Sassuolo man, while Di Marzio has claimed that any agreement to take Scamacca to Roma would likely be on a loan basis.

Last term, Scamacca struggled to make an impact in his maiden campaign in English football, scoring eight times in 27 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Brown thinks that Moyes will be 'determined' to help Scamacca succeed at the London Stadium despite his inconsistent form in 2022/23.

Brown stated: “As far as I'm aware, West Ham are still really determined to try and make a success of Scamacca.

"There have been little hints from Italy about him wanting to return there because things didn't really quite go according to plan.

"He does feel like someone who doesn't really fit the Moyes system perfectly, I think Antonio even said that on his podcast not so long ago.

"But I'm told the plan is that they want him back and they want to try and get the best out of him next season.”

Which striker is linked to West Ham?

It's possible that West Ham United will act to strengthen their forward line this summer as they look to build on their Europa Conference League triumph last term.

According to 90min, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is a target for the Hammers and contact has been initiated with the USA international, who is valued at £30 million by the Gunners.

Strasbourg forward Habib Diallo is another name on West Ham United's radar this window; however, Brentford and Crystal Palace will provide competition in the race to sign the Senegal international, as per Football Insider.

The Irons are tracking Jubilo Iwata youngster Keisuke Goto and the 18-year-old could be brought to the club under the GBE rule, which guarantees that players of significant talent that don't qualify for a work permit are given an exemption from the process, according to The Daily Mail.

Sevilla, Juventus and Feyenoord are all monitoring the exciting starlet, who has striking physical attributes and stands at 6ft 3ins. Goto has been tipped for big things in his homeland and there is an expectation that at some point he will make a full breakthrough to the Japanese national team.

A similar tournament had been scheduled and budgeted for the 2015-16 season, only for it to be scrapped

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Aug-2017

Sri Lanka Cricket has reiterated its commitment to starting a condensed, provincial-based first-class tournament in the 2017-18 season.Although a similar tournament had been scheduled and budgeted for the 2015-16 season, the board led by Thilanga Sumathipala had scrapped those plans, and has since failed to organise a high-quality first-class tournament for two seasons running.Next season, however, will see the introduction of a four-team first-class season, SLC vice-president K Mathivanan has said. The teams will be based in Dambulla, Pallekele, Galle and Colombo. This “Super Provincial” tournament will effectively be the centrepiece of the domestic schedule, with the club-based first-class tournament likely to be a three-day tournament only, where usually a portion of it is played across four days.”Since our focus is mainly on the Super Provincial tournament where only the top cricketers will be in action, we will play the [club tournament] as three-day games only,” Mathivanan told . “The 60 [that will play in the Super Provincial tournament] are the cream of our cricketers who will be selected for the national team, Sri Lanka A team and the Sri Lanka Emerging team.”While previous iterations of provincial-based tournaments had been short-lived, Mathivanan said he is intent on making the Super Provincial tournament a long-term success by ensuring “there’s a clear graduation path,” and that there is “loyalty of the players for their provinces – a culture we need to create in this country”.The domestic season will also be more clearly divided into first-class and limited-overs segments: “We do not want to switch from one format to other in a haphazard manner. Unlike previous years, we will be first playing red-ball cricket (first-class) followed by white-ball cricket (List A). This will enable players to have a better focus.”Mathivanan’s words align with those of SLC president Sumathipala, who told ESPNcricinfo in May: “Definitely, we are going to play the super provincial four-team tournament. We are looking at day-night pink-ball cricket for that as well. Initially, for the next two to three years, we’ve decided to distribute the players into the provincial team based on where they come from, as much as we can. The national selectors will then sit together and work out the best possible balance, and assign players accordingly.”However, the present board had also promised to organise a provincial-based first-class competition for the 2016-17 season, and subsequently failed to do so, scheduling only a List A provincial-based tournament instead.Nevertheless, if the Super Provincial first-class tournament is actually played as Mathivanan and Sumathipala have outlined, it is likely to represent a significant step in the development of senior talent. The club-based first-class system has been criticised for its bloated format for several years, and a consensus has formed that the quality of cricket in that competition has declined substantially.And while Sri Lanka’s age-group based tournaments remain relatively healthy – thanks in part to the present board’s investment in that area – cricketers who leave the school system have graduated to one of the weakest domestic structures in the Test-playing world. The club tournament has also been plagued by poor pitches.A four-day tournament, with fewer players and a higher quality of play, aims to fix that. Additionally, as each of the venues at Dambulla, Pallekele, Galle and Khettarama can be directly administered by SLC, this should theoretically mean the Super Provincial competition will be played on good surfaces.

A second ODI loss to Zimbabwe in the ongoing series, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews conceded, has put his captaincy under significant pressure, and he hinted that he is unsure if he will lead the side in the next World Cup

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Jul-2017Angelo Mathews is unsure whether he will be Sri Lanka’s captain at the 2019 World Cup, after leading his side to a second loss against Zimbabwe in the ongoing five-match series. The defeat, Mathews conceded, put his captaincy under significant pressure. His comments came after Zimbabwe chased down a revised target of 219 – deduced via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method – in the fourth ODI, after Sri Lanka had made 300.”There’s a lot of pressure on all of us, and as a captain there is a lot of pressure on me as well,” Mathews said after the loss in Hambantota. “In these games, where our batsmen have done well, our bowlers didn’t perform well – both in this match, and in the first one we lost. Our fielding also hasn’t been good at times. Against Zimbabwe, we need to play better than this. If we score 300 and still lose here, there is a big shortcoming.”Mathews’ record as ODI captain since the last World Cup isn’t exactly awful: the team has won 12 matches to the 15 they have lost under his watch. However, during that time, their only series wins under Mathews have been against West Indies at home, and Ireland, away. They have lost one away series apiece to England and New Zealand, and one home series to Australia and Pakistan each. Besides, there is now a risk of losing a home series to 11th-ranked Zimbabwe, who have tied the ongoing series 2-2.”I don’t know if I will be going to the 2019 World Cup as captain,” Mathews said. “Our batsmen are doing well, but sometimes there’s no consistency in our fielding – we don’t do well sometimes. But with the players that we have, we can win these matches. We lost these matches because our bowling wasn’t good. We have to solve this problem quickly.”If Sri Lanka perform poorly in the forthcoming ODIs against India (in August and September), there is also the chance of the team not being able to gain automatic entry for the 2019 World Cup. At present, Sri Lanka are on the eighth position, with 92 rating points. They must stay ahead of West Indies, who are currently on 78 rating points, in order to avoid going through a separate qualification procedure for the next World Cup.Considering this was the second instance in the series when Sri Lanka failed to defend 300 or more, Mathews was forthright in stating his discontent over the lack of sting in the performance of the bowlers.”After scoring 300, how many times can you lose a game?” You know, we had enough runs on the board. [It’s] unfortunate the rain had to intervene, but still, we had the bowling attack to defend it. The first ten overs we gave away a lot of runs, also the rain intervened and the last ten overs we didn’t bowl that well.”We actually didn’t know the rain might come in, but the wicket was extremely dry this morning. So we all thought it’s going to start slowing more and more once the day goes on. We saw in the last game also that the ball started turning after the first 20 overs, in the second half especially. So, I thought if we bat first and bat well, we have the spinners to defend it.”Mathews also made the point that Sri Lanka’s attack was a diminished one. Nuwan Pradeep, who has recently been the best bowler in the side, picked up a niggle in the third ODI, and is being rested in order to ensure he can be fit for the four Test matches over the next eight weeks. Suranga Lakmal was also made unavailable by illness.”In our bowling we are facing problems – Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal are injured,” Mathews said. “We have to manage our bowlers’ workloads as well. We’ve got a lot of cricket coming up. We have to balance managing workloads and winning the matches in front of us.”

Jacques Rudolph’s dismissal turned the DLS score from a tie to a Gloucestershire victory•Getty Images

Gloucestershire beat Glamorgan by five runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, despite career-best figures of 5-17 for Michael Hogan, with Jacques Rudolph’s dismissal off what became the final ball proving a match-winning moment.Only five overs of the run chase were possible as the rain came when Glamorgan were 32 for 2, chasing 151 to win, after Thisara Perera bowled Rudolph moments before the players left the field. Had that wicket not fallen, the scores would have been tied on DLS.The match was due to resume at 9.15pm with a revised target of 114, meaning Glamorgan would have required 82 from nine overs, but further heavy rain arrived to bring an end.Having won the toss and put Gloucestershire in to bat, Glamorgan’s bowlers struggled to find their line early on and at the end of the Powerplay Gloucestershire were solidly placed on 45 without loss.However, a bowling change paid off as Craig Meschede, with his first delivery, had Klinger caught by Andrew Salter attempting a pull shot.Phil Mustard brought up his fifty with an on-driven six off Salter in the 12th over, and Ian Cockbain added a six of his own in the same over as the visitors reached 97 for 1.Meschede made a second breakthrough when Ian Cockbain skied to Michael Hogan at mid-off for 22 and he ended with 2 for 28.Colin Ingram was brought into the attack and claimed the scalp of Mustard for 57 when he picked out deep midwicket.Kieran Noema-Barnett took Ingram for two boundaries and Jack Taylor was given a life when he was dropped on the midwicket rope by Aneurin Donald.However, Donald did take the chance offered by Noema-Barnett which began Hogan’s late burst. Hogan took another two wickets in the over, bowling Taylor for 10 before Thisara Perera was removed by an impressive catch from David Miller.Hogan added a fourth when he bowled George Hankins and, after the run out of Matt Taylor, he removed Benny Howell off the final ball of the innings.

Perhaps the most pressing concern for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea is the lack of depth in midfield.

This year, the Blues have lost Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Mason Mount, leaving the club moderately light in the centre of the park.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Moises Caicedo has been long-winded and well-documented as they’re yet to reach an agreement for the 21-year-old. The west London outfit recently had a bid of £70m rejected by the Seagulls, but previous reports suggested that the Ecuadorian could cost up to £100m.

Brighton’s stance has probably been hardened by Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal, with the south coast side feeling they can acquire a similar fee for one of their biggest talents.

This frustrating process may force Chelsea in a different direction – and Marco Verratti has been suggested as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Marco Verratti to Chelsea?

According to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Chelsea are one of several European giants who are keen on signing Verratti.

He revealed there’s a chance that the 30-year-old will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Although it is understood that the French club’s official position is that he’s not for sale, they may listen to offers that match their valuation, which is around £70m.

However, Atletico Madrid, Al-Hilal and Liverpool have also expressed interest in securing the Italian’s signature. Regarding the rumours around the Premier League sides, they are not confirmed and Solhekol believes it may just be intermediaries, agents, or representatives offering Verratti to Liverpool and Chelsea at this stage, as both clubs are in need of midfielders.

Nevertheless, given that the Reds are on the verge of losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – as well as the brazenly chaotic transfer dealings of the new Chelsea ownership – a move to either side could yet happen.

Would Marco Verratti be a good signing for Chelsea?

The 55-cap international has been an impeccable club servant for PSG, as in over a decade of service he has made over 400 appearances and won nine Ligue 1 titles.

His diminutive weaving stature and imperious technical elegance has helped him form a formidable reputation across the globe as one of the most talented midfielders.

This has been recognised by Pep Guardiola, who has emphatically underlined his praise for the 5 foot 5 magician, saying: “I’m in love with him. He is exceptional. Even under pressure, he manages to find those passes that allow the midfield to be free. He’s not a player for long passes but you can always count on him to build the game.”

His style of play has led to comparisons with Thiago Alcantara, as per FBref, as both relentlessly dictate the tempo of matches with their passing, intelligence and movement.

This is mainly mirrored by their statistics on the ball as they average similar pass completion per 90 (92.6% vs 86.6%), progressive passes per 90 (9.81 vs 8.65), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.28 vs 1.33). Furthermore, these aforementioned figures place both men within the best 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among their positional peers for each of those metrics.

As well as this exemplary ball-playing competence, they also possess excellent and unexpected tenacity, ranking in the top 5% across the continent for tackles per 90.

Therefore, adding someone of this quality would be massive for Chelsea and would mean an exciting reunion with Pochettino.

Man United and Liverpool will not compete at the revamped Club World Cup in 2025 after the FIFA Council made a huge decision on Sunday.

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• United and Liverpool absent from 2025 CWC
• Arsenal have slim hope
• City and Chelsea already qualified

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the FIFA Council decided that no more than two clubs from the same nation can take part in the tournament. The revamped Club World Cup will take place in the United States, starting on June 15 and concluding on July 13.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  12 European clubs will qualify for the competition, including the winners of the UEFA Champions League from 2021 to 2024. Chelsea and Manchester City were crowned European champions in 2021 and 2023 respectively, meaning they have already secured the two English spots. The only way three English teams can take part is if Arsenal win this season's Champions League. Therefore, United and Liverpool are guaranteed to miss out.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Along with City and Chelsea, Real Madrid will feature in the US thanks to winning the Champions League in 2022. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto and Benfica are guaranteed to be five of the other eight European sides that qualify through UEFA rankings based on historic performances in the Champions League.

  The 2025 CWC will feature eight groups of four teams, with two sides from each group progressing to the last-16. United and Liverpool will now miss out on a potential prize fund of up to £50 million ($63m).

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED AND LIVERPOOL?

  The two Premier League giants will hope to be involved in the following edition of the expanded Club World Cup in 2029. In the meantime, Liverpool will focus on trying to topple City's Premier League dynasty while United attempt to keep pace with European football's elite.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is now on the verge of sealing his Reds exit this summer, according to a key update regarding his future.

Is Jordan Henderson leaving Liverpool?

The 33-year-old has enjoyed 12 unforgettable years at Anfield, overcoming a tough early spell at the club to become one of the best skippers in the club's history, having taken over from Steven Gerrard upon his departure back in 2015.

Henderson has won countless trophies during his time as a Liverpool player, most memorable lifting the Champions League in 2010 and the Premier League the following year – Micah Richards has hailed him as "world-class" – and his reputation as a Reds legend is now undeniable, having been such a strong servant for so many years.

Sadly, though, it looks as though the Englishman's time as a Liverpool player is coming to an end, with strong recent reports suggesting he is on the verge of joining Saudi Arabian side At Ettifaq, who are currently managed by Reds icon Gerrard.

While Henderson is currently in Germany with the rest of the squad on pre-season duty, a new claim suggests that he will be waving goodbye to his teammates very soon.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson's Liverpool future?

According to Football Insider early on Monday morning, Henderson has been in further negotiations with Al Ettifaq over a move to the club in recent hours, with a medical now edging closer:

"Liverpool expect to follow the sale of Fabinho this week with that of skipper Jordan Henderson after negotiations progressed in the last 24 hours, sources have told Football Insider. The Anfield skipper, 33, has agreed a two-year contract with Al Ettifaq worth a staggering £700,000-a-week, while Fabinho has been given the green light by the club to finalise the terms of a £40million move to Al-Ittihad.

"The Saudi club are confident a medical and the formalities of the move will now be completed soon, putting an end to the England international’s glittering 12-year Anfield career."

This is such a say way for Henderson's Liverpool career to end, with the captain still seemingly considered a key squad player heading into the 2023/24 season. He still has plenty to offer, even if his best days are behind him, and his leadership on and off the pitch will be greatly missed, especially as former vice-captain James Milner also departed for Brighton earlier in the summer.

With Fabinho also expected to move on, too, this really is a summer of enormous change in Liverpool's midfield, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain exiting earlier in the window, and both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszali coming in from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

In truth, it needed to happen to some degree, considering how ageing and disjointed the Reds looked in the middle of the park last season, but Jurgen Klopp has a massive job on his hands ensuring that new faces fit in quickly, and that further signings come in to fill the imminent void left by Henderson and Fabinho, avoiding a season of transition in the process.