Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign a player with ambitions of winning the Ballon d’Or, with as many as seven Premier League clubs eyeing him up.
Slot coy about Liverpool's attacking options
The Reds take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon, with new signings Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike all expected to start. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot was asked about his Liverpool attack, amid interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, with the Dutcham remaining coy about the situation.
“These are a lot of questions! As you know from me – and I think every manager works like this – you never talk about players that are not yours. I can talk to you about Hugo [Ekitike], who we signed recently and has done really well until now. I and we are very happy with the squad we are having and there is every reason to be happy about that because we won the league last season.
“OK, players left, but we have brought players in as well and youngsters are doing good. At this moment in time, Darwin [Nunez] might indeed leave, but things are not signed yet, so you need to wait maybe a few days before that is completely done. But there is indeed a chance he is going to leave.”
While signing Isak is the dream for Liverpool, another midfielder wouldn’t go amiss, and the Reds have been linked with a move for a Premier League star.
Liverpool enter race to sign Carlos Baleba
According to a new report from Caught Offside, Liverpool are in a seven-club race to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba this summer. The £100m-rated Cameroonian is being “closely monitored” by the Reds, but they are far from the only team in the mix to snap him up, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham all mentioned as suitors, too.
Admittedly, Liverpool feel well-stocked in midfield ahead of the new Premier League season, but if there is a chance to sign a player of Baleba’s pedigree, they shouldn’t miss the opportunity.
The 21-year-old has vast potential – he has said he wants to win the Ballor d’Or, like Manchester City midfielder Rodri did in 2024 – and the hope is that he finds the Reds the most alluring, becoming their biggest ever defensive signing ahead of Virgil van Dijk.
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In truth, it is easier to envisage Baleba moving to United instead, with Liverpool’s rivals more in need of a midfielder, and the Premier League champions surely focusing their funds on Isak and a new centre-back.
