Liverpool ‘consider serious bid’ as Arne Slot ‘charmed’; Reds face missing out on another transfer | OneFootball

According to reports, Liverpool are ‘considering a serious bid’ for a midfielder playing in the Eredivisie as head coach Arne Slot is ‘charmed by’ him.

Liverpool‘s dire start to this season has made it clear that they need to make more signings in the next two transfer windows.

Last season, Slot‘s side were comfortably the best team in the Premier League as they clinched their 20th title, so it was somewhat surprising that they decided to make wholesale changes to their squad in the summer.

The Reds needed a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold as he joined Real Madrid, but Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah left in the summer.

They landed Jeremie Frimpong to replace Alexander-Arnold, while they also landed Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Giovanni Leoni in a £400m+ summer overhaul.

It was initially believed that this business would establish a period of dominance for Liverpool, but they have regressed this season.

Their new signings and other key players have performed poorly, while the overall lack of cohesion with Slot’s side has led to them losing seven of their last ten matches in all competitions.

During this run, Liverpool have fallen from first to eighth in the Premier League table, with last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Man City arguably ending their title challenge.

This leaves several Liverpool players at risk of being replaced next year, with their priority likely to be signing a centre-back and winger.

But a report from Soccer News claims they are ‘considering a serious bid’ for AZ Alkmaar star Kees Smit, who has ‘charmed’ Slot.

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The report also mentions that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in the 19-year-old, who has two goals and two assists in the Eredivisie this season.

Regarding Liverpool’s search for a new centre-back, Borussia Dortmund star Nico Schlotterbeck has been mentioned as an alternative to Marc Guehi.

However, a report from journalist Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider claims they ‘could be beaten’ to this signing by Bayern Munich.

O’Rourke explained: “I think it’s a developing story.

“I think obviously he’s got a contract until 2027 with Dortmund, so it’s not like he could be lured away on a pre-contract this January. His future is very much up in the air at Dortmund.

“He’s turned down an improved contract offer to extend his stay beyond 2027 and, by all accounts, reports in Germany suggest he is unhappy with the current situation at the club with regard to the style of play under Nico Kovac as well. So when you get all that going, you will have lots of rumours of a possible move away for the German international.

“He’s developed into one of the best young centre backs in the world during his time at Dortmund and for Germany as well. So look, Dortmund are worried by the interest in him.

“Bayern Munich are keeping very close tabs on the situation due to their ongoing scenario regarding their own centre back options with Dayot Upamecano potentially leaving on a free transfer in the summer.

“They see Schlotterbeck as being an ideal replacement for him if the Frenchman was to leave Bavaria this summer. But while Liverpool are openly looking for centre-back reinforcements, [there are] ongoing doubts about Ibrahima Konate and his long-term future.

“Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger as well. So look, I think he’s [Schlotterbeck] going to have plenty of options, no doubts about that.

“Bayern Munich will be confident that they can maybe keep him in Germany if he decides to leave Borussia Dortmund.”