Media Digest: Liverpool are ready to follow Newcastle and Miguel Almirón with a big-money MLS transfer, but will not meet the fee required for Enzo Fernández.
Andy Robertson awarded MBE
Andy Robertson has been awarded an MBE in the latest New Year Honours list.
The Liverpool defender recently surpassed Leighton Baines as the Premier League defender with the most assists of all time. Sure enough, ‘services to football’ are listed among the reasons for the recognition. But he would consider his work off the field far more important.
The MBE also acknowledges his services to charity and young people. Robertson has his own charity, AR26, which aims to ensure equal opportunities among those growing up in Scotland.
The charity provides free football coaching sessions, as well as helping to mentor young people for employment and education opportunities. Robertson grew up in Glasgow, coming through the ranks at Queen’s Park, and is now captain of the Scottish national team.
Liverpool make ‘concrete move’
Liverpool have already added Cody Gakpo this January, but they may not be finished just yet. Another ‘concrete move’ is apparently in the works.
That’s according to Italian journalist Raffaele Amato, who claims Jhon Durán is the subject of Liverpool interest. The Colombian plays in MLS for Chicago Fire.
Durán’s club are said to be holding out for £18m ($21m/€20m). That would almost be an MLS transfer record, with only Miguel Almirón having cost more. The Paraguayan took a while to get going at Newcastle, but has belatedly more than justified his price tag of £21m ($26m/€24m).
That should be a lesson to Liverpool if they do pursue a transfer, with the leap from MLS to the Premier League a massive one. Durán would need time. But FSG will not have it all their own way in completing a move, with Benfica said to have made a bigger offer at this stage. Aston Villa are also interested.
Fernández price too high
Liverpool will not meet the £106m ($129m/€120m) asking price being touted for Enzo Fernández, per the latest report.
Fabrizio Romano claims that Liverpool are ‘not intentioned’ to run up this kind of bill, despite being interested in a new midfielder as a priority ‘focus’. At least for the time being, Fernández will not be targeted.
Romano referenced Jürgen Klopp’s verdict that Liverpool ‘need to collect money for a bit’ before they can spend again. Whether that means Gakpo is the only incoming January transfer remains to be seen, but it certainly rules out a big-money addition like Fernández.
Meanwhile, GOAL reports that Liverpool have still not given up on a summer move for Jude Bellingham, despite Real Madrid having apparently muscled into pole position.
