Currently leading the Premier League standings as they prepare to resume Premier League action after the winter break, Liverpool are said to be aiming to outmaneuver title rivals Arsenal in acquiring a player who might resolve the Reds’ injury woes.
Whilst they’re yet to add new players to their roster this month, Liverpool have prioritized departures like Fabio Carvahlo’s loan move to Hull City, opting for strategic adjustments. However, the club has surfaced in connection with significant transfers.
Reports indicate that Liverpool are one of the clubs expressing interest in Bruno Guimaraes, a player who might leave Newcastle United as they navigate the Premier League’s financial regulations.
Simultaneously, the Reds have entered the competition for Douglas Luiz, a move that could solidify their midfield rebuild once and for all.
With Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson currently sidelined due to injuries, Liverpool find themselves in need of another left-back or a versatile player like Joe Gomez.
Currently, Gomez is filling in, leaving Jurgen Klopp without a senior back-up on the opposite flank in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence. To address this emerging crisis, the Reds are exploring the possibility of a market solution.
Football Transfers reports that Liverpool have held discussions with Wolverhampton Wanderers regarding the potential signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri. However, Wolves are seeking over £50 million for the left-back, and Arsenal’s recent approach has been rebuffed as falling short of this valuation.
While Ait-Nouri’s departure appears more likely in the summer, Liverpool and Arsenal might still influence Wolves’ decision with a compelling offer before the January transfer window concludes.
“Fantastic” Ait-Nouri Has Outperformed Tsimikas This Season
Without Robertson, Tsimikas stepped in on the left side until he got injured against Arsenal last month. While the Greek player did a decent job, Ait-Nouri’s statistics indicate that the Wolves player has outperformed the current Liverpool left-back.
| Player | Progressive Carries | Progressive Passes | Blocks | Tackles Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rayan Ait-Nouri | 31 | 53 | 15 | 22 |
| Kostas Tsimikas | 21 | 31 | 9 | 13 |
That said, Ait-Nouri’s rise makes the previous praise of former captain Conor Coady no surprise. The former Wolves defender told the club’s official website: “He’s really sharp. He turns you inside out. He’s got bags of tricks. It’s important we try and help him settle in as much as possible.
“He’s a young boy coming from a different country. He’s a fantastic person, he’s brilliant to have around the place, and it’s up to us as teammates and friends to make him settle as quickly as possible and hopefully we’ll keep on going.”
Ait-Nouri faces potential complications in securing a deal this month with Liverpool, as he is currently at the African Cup of Nations with Algeria.
This challenge is amplified by Liverpool’s absence of key players, including Mohamed Salah and summer signing Wataru Endo, who is representing Japan at the Asian Cup.
In other Liverpool news, Five Reasons Why Liverpool Can Win the Premier League Title This Season