Jurgen Klopp holds private talks as Liverpool plot to hijack Man Utd target

17 August 2023 , 11:27

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Jurgen Klopp holds private talks as Liverpool plot to hijack Man Utd target

Jurgen Klopp has held talks with Sofyan Amrabat in a bid to convince the Fiorentina midfielder to join Liverpool ahead of Manchester United.

The agent of Amrabat has confirmed clubs want to sign the midfielder this summer amid interest from both United and Liverpool. Reds boss Klopp met with his representative earlier this year while Erik ten Hag previously coached the player at FC Utrecht.

The Moroccan international looks set to leave the Serie A outfit this summer with multiple clubs monitoring his situation. Amrabat returned to the club’s training facilities last month but is believed to be desperate to leave Fiorentina – who promised him in January that he could move in summer.

Speaking to Voetbal Primeur earlier this summer, Amrabat’s agent Mahmoud El Boustati explained: "Quite a few clubs are interested in Sofyan. It is now a matter of making the right choice. He is still just a Fiorentina player. If something interesting comes up, Sofyan is open to the step, Fiorentina are too. There are two, three clubs that he is open to."

With Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both moving to Saudi Arabia after Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left as free agents, Klopp is desperate for more reinforcements. The Reds missed out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia – who are joining Chelsea from Brighton and Southampton respectively.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

United’s need for a midfielder is less pressing but Fred has been sold to Fenerbahce while Scott McTominay has also been linked to a summer exit amid interest from West Ham. Marcel Sabitzer has moved on too, joining Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich after his Old Trafford loan stint.

Have Your Say! Would Amrabat be a better signing for Man Utd or Liverpool ? Tell us what you think here.

Amrabat is wanted by both Manchester United and Liverpool (Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Dutch publication AD has outlined that Reds boss Klopp has gone as far as to hold talks with Amrabat in a bid to convince him to move to Anfield. United’s inability to sell McTominay and Harry Maguire means that their transfer budget to pursue a move for the Moroccan is not yet in place.

The Merseyside club began their January transfer window by completing the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch international had been in the process of negotiating a deal with United, who were not decisive on a deal for the forward – with a similar situation potentially now unfolding on Amrabat.

Colin Millar