Three players Liverpool could sign before the transfer window shuts | Shoot

After the second round of Premier League fixtures, Liverpool remain one of only three clubs to have won both games without conceding a single goal. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side have beaten Norwich City and Burnley by 3-0 and 2-0 shorelines respectively and, aside from Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea are the only other side in this position.

However, that record will end for one of the two this weekend, as the Blues face the Reds at Anfield in what, while it may be too early to define as season-defining, will undoubtedly be a hugely important match.

Chelsea’s new record signing Romelu Lukaku made his debut against Arenal on Sunday, and had an instant impact as he opened the scoring early on for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Now the striker will face a much tougher task as he is pitted against one of the world’s best defenders, Virgil Van Dijk.

The battle between the Belgian and the Dutchman will quite possibly be the most intriguing contest on Saturday, and could go someway towards deciding which side comes out on top.

Unlike their counterparts, Liverpool have been relatively quiet in the transfer window so far this summer, with Ibrahima Konate the club’s only senior signing.

However, Klopp’s side could yet delve once again into the window.

Below, we take a look at who could still be arriving at Anfield this summer.

Kylian Mbappe

Although this may seem like one of the more unlikely possibilities entering into the final week of the window, it may not actually be as far-fetched as it initially seems.

French attacker Mbappe is reportedly unhappy at current club Paris Saint-Germain and, according to RMC Sport, has turned down his current employer’s latest contract offer.

The 2018 World Cup winner’s current deal is set to expire next summer and PSG are therefore working tirelessly to tie the 22-year-old down to a new five-year deal, which would include a significant wage increase.

However, the wage hike would reportedly leave him still some way short of teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar as the club’s highest earners, and Mbappe apparently remains ‘cold’ with the club’s director Leonardo.

While a move for Mbappe may be audacious from Liverpool, it would not be out of the question as the French side will likely do anything to avoid losing him for free next summer, and may therefore consider bids this week.

In January, Mbappe would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club, as per current regulations.

While Mbappe’s next club will be the envy of almost anyone, the Frenchman would have to displace one of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota or Roberto Firmino.

With only a week remaining until the window slams shit once more, a deal for Mbappe does seem unlikely. However, with PSG adamant that they don’t want to lose him for nothing next year, could the French star be on his way out of Paris this week?

Ismaila Sarr

Sarr was initially linked with a move to Liverpool after impressing during the 2019/20 season.

As arguably the player most frequently linked with Liverpool this summer, it comes as little surprise that speculation is still circling in the final days of the window.

The Watford star scored on the opening day of the new season as the Hornets defeated Aston Villa 3-2, and days after it was reported that the Senegal international wanted to join the Reds, as per The Express.

The report stated that the winger, an international teammate of the Reds’ Sadio Mane, was looking to push through a move to Anfield before the deadline on August 31.

A week later, there has been little in the way of updates on Sarr’s future.

In the days since, however, Xherdan Shaqiri has departed the club, potentially freeing up an attacking space in Klopp’s squad.

Sarr scored 13 goals and managed a further ten assists last season, as the Hornets returned to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho was instrumental for the Reds during his time in England, but has failed to maintain his form since departing for Spain.

One final player who could be arriving n Merseyside, for the second time in his career, before August 31 is Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian was a key asset during the tenure of Brendan Rodgers and remained a star during the early part of Klopp’s reign.

However, a £142 million move to Barcelona in 2018 ended his five-year stay in Liverpool, and his form has dwindled ever since.

The midfielder had been instrumental during his time in the Premier League, scoring 54 goals and registering 45 assists in 201 games for the Reds.

Now, it appears that the club have made more than one attempt to re-sign the 29-year-old.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (Print edition, August 21, page 3), the Reds have tried to sign the player at least twice already this summer.

The reports from Spain suggest that the English club have regularly ‘probed’ their Spanish counterparts over the availability of the player, who has spent time on loan with Bayern Munich since arriving in Barcelona.

Liverpool have reportedly been in the market for a midfielder all summer after the loss of Gini Wijnaldum to PSG on a free transfer, however Coutinho would be viewed by many as a much more attacking option than the Dutchman.

With a week remaining until the window shuts, a number of deals could still happen. With only Konate having arrived at Anfield so far this summer, Liverpool have been far quieter than the rest of their title rivals.

However, with Van Dijk and Joe Gomez both returning to full fitness, Liverpool’s squad promises to already be an improvement on last term.