Liverpool consider launching player-plus-cash deal to sign Brazilian defender with £51 million price tag: Reports
Liverpool are allegedly keen to include a player in a potential deal to sign Juventus defender Gleison Bremer ahead of the next season.
The Reds, who finished third in the 2023-24 Premier League table, are currently on the lookout for a new centre-back. They released Joel Matip at the end of the star's contract at the end of June earlier this year.
Now, according to Spanish news outlet Todofichajes, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Bremer's situation at Juventus. The Reds' top brass are prepared to launch a move to sign the Brazilian in the near future.
However, Juventus' asking price of around £51 million is expected to pose a major problem for Arne Slot's side. Hence, the Reds are aiming to come up with a player-plus-cash deal to snap up the centre-back.
Should Bremer join the Merseyside outfit this summer, he would emerge as a vital squad member for them. He would offer competition to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who is deemed to be injury-prone.
Bremer, whose Juventus contract is set to expire in Juen 2028, helped his club win the Coppa Italia trophy last campaign. The 27-year-old has netted eight goals in 83 appearances across competitions for them.
John Barnes comments on where Liverpool star will fit in head coach Arne Slot's plans
Speaking to online bookmaker BettingExpert, Reds great John Barnes insisted that Cody Gakpo will not only play as a left winger under new head coach Arne Slot. He said:
"Gakpo may like the role on the [left] wing but we've got Luiz Diaz, we've got [Diogo] Jota, we've got [Darwin] Nunez... so he has to play where he's asked to play. To be honest, we don't know what to expect in terms of playing style, so we'll have to see how things pan out during pre-season."
Sharing further thoughts on the Dutch attacker, Barnes concluded:
"We'll have to see how Arne Slot wants him and Liverpool to play because he has to play the way the manager wants him to and the position he wants him to play. He did it for Jurgen [Klopp] and he'll have to do it for Arne. He can't dictate where he wants to play. Especially because there are other players that like that position too. He's got a good enough character to do what's asked of him so it won't be an issue."
Gakpo, 25, relished a brilliant summer representing Netherlands at the UEFA Euro 2024. He recorded three goals and one assist in Germany.
So far, the ex-PSV Eindhoven man has scored 23 goals and provided nine assists in 79 appearances, including just 54 starts, for Liverpool.