Klopp issues Van Dijk injury update as Liverpool receive transfer response

11 February 2023 , 05:00

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Liverpool take on Everton next Monday in a mouth-watering Merseyside derby clash.

However, there's plenty of water to run under the bridge between now and then, especially with the Reds in such a dire run of form. Liverpool have only won one of their seven games in 2023, putting pressure on Jurgen Klopp to turn things around and thrusting his previously ironclad future into the spotlight.

Injuries are plaguing at Anfield right now but it's no excuse for a string of torrid performances, summed up by last Saturday's horrendous 3-0 defeat away to Wolves. Things feel like they're going from bad to worse for the Reds, with the summer transfer window coming to the fore as fans hope for some serious reinvestment - and a successful takeover.

Here's a round-up of the latest news from Anfield.

Klopp issues Van Dijk injury update

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Virgil van Dijk isn't "that close" to returning from injury. The Dutch centre-back, 31, has been sidelined since early January when he picked up a serious hamstring problem during a bruising 3-1 loss at Brentford. Asked for an update on Van Dijk, Klopp admitted: "Virgil, I don't think he's that close yet."

Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected

The Reds boss added of other injured stars: "The players are back in training but in different stages. Diogo [Jota] is the closest he trains now normally for two days and we have three more days of training for him and he's in contention for the squad I think.

"Bobby [Firmino], the next one, I don't know. We have to see how that looks with training intensity and make a decision there. Arthur [Melo] is similar to Bobby I would say."

Read the full story HERE.

Virgil van Dijk remains out injured for Liverpool (Getty Images)

Keita exit route emerges

AC Milan are ready to step up their interest in outgoing Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who's set to leave Anfield on a free transfer this summer. The 27-year-old Guinea international has spent five seasons on Merseyside following his £51.6million move from RB Leipzig in 2018, which was then a club-record fee.

Mirror Football understands that Milan are keen to bolster their midfield with Keita's arrival. It's claimed elsewhere that Leipzig are interested in bringing the player back to east Germany.

Read the full story HERE.

Naby Keita is attracting interest from AC Milan (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Have your say! Would AC Milan be a good move for Keita? Give us your verdict in the comments section.

Branthwaite responds to transfer speculation

Reported Liverpool transfer target Jarrad Branthwaite has admitted that he'll 'consider' a permanent move to PSV Eindhoven at the end of the season. The 20-year-old defender, notably on loan from Everton, recently broke into Ruud Van Nistelrooy's starting XI and the Daily Mail claim that south from Liverpool, Manchester United and Roma are watching him closely.

"It's something I will take into consideration, definitely," Branthwaite, who was reportedly subject to a £15m bid from PSV during the January transfer window, told ESPN. "I'm enjoying my time here, playing games. It's been good this second half of the season. It's something we can look for in the future but I'm just focusing on playing as many games as I can."

Read the full story HERE.