Transfer rumors, news: Liverpool look at USMNT star Pepi

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is attracting interest from European giants in France and Spain, while Liverpool weigh up a move for USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors, and gossip from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Liverpool are evaluating PSV’s Ricardo Pepi as a potential transfer target, Ekrem Konur reports. The USA international has impressed in the Eredivisie this season, scoring six goals in 11 league games. Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be closely monitoring his development. PSV have set the 21-year-old’s transfer fee at €25m.

– PSG and Barcelona remain interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as contract negotiations with Napoli continue, per Gazzetta dello Sport. The Georgia superstar is under contract at Napoli until 2027, but his current deal sees him earn just €1.5 million ($1.6m) per season. Negotiations are set to continue this week, with Kvaratskhelia currently requesting a salary increase to just under €8m per season. PSG are reportedly willing to test Napoli’s resolve once more, after having a €100m bid for the 23-year-old rejected last summer.

– Real Madrid are hoping to bring Florian Wirtz to the Santiago Bernabeu next season alongside Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, report Sky Sports Deutschland. Both Alonso and Wirtz are expected to leave the Bundesliga club next summer, although several Premier League clubs and Bayern Munich are also keen on signing the German midfielder.

– Real Madrid want to sign Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah and Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies on free transfers in the summer, says AS. The Spanish giants are keen to save money and they will have got themselves a huge bargain if they can land the trio for nothing. ESPN sources have also revealed that they are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz

– Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on signing Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, according to Football Insider. The USMNT international would relish the chance to play for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs but Fulham aren’t ready to let him leave in January, as has played every minute of every league game so far, and will only accept a summer move.

EXPERT TAKE

ESPN’s Liverpool correspondent Beth Lindop explores why the club might be keen on signing USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi.

The ongoing debate around whether €80m-striker Darwin Nunez has what it takes to be Liverpool’s long-term No. 9 means there will be no shortage of reports linking the club to potential replacements.

Nunez has entertained and frustrated in equal measure during his time at Anfield so far, often drawing criticism for his erratic finishing. An injury to Diogo Jota has opened the door for the Uruguay international to play more of a starring role in recent weeks and he is slowly adapting to Arne Slot’s more controlled, possession-based style. But he’s yet to prove he can be a prolific goal scorer for Liverpool, having managed just three goals and two assists in all competitions so far this term.

While Nunez shouldn’t be written off yet, there is much to like about Pepi and he certainly ticks a number of boxes in terms of Liverpool’s traditional recruitment policy.

Under FSG’s ownership, Liverpool tend to target young players who are available for a relatively low fee, but who already boast ample experience at the elite level. Having already won over 30 caps for the USMNT, the 21-year-old Pepi fits this mould at around €25m, while his ability to drop deep and link up with the midfielders behind him could align well with Slot’s system.

OTHER RUMORS

– Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is set to become a free agent in the coming days by terminating his contract. The 31-year-old is set to restart his career in March 2025 after seeing his ban for taking DHEA, a testosterone-enhancing supplement, reduced from four years to 18 months. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Alejandro Garnacho would only leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. United have been linked with a swap deal for Garnacho and Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios, plus €40m. But the Argentina international would only join Atletico’s rivals. (TEAMtalk)

– As a result, Manchester City have entered the race to sign Barrios for €100m. (El Nacional)

– Bayern Munich and Barcelona are in the race with Real Madrid to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah when he becomes a free agent in the summer. (AS).

– Financial constraints could scupper Aymeric Laporte‘s dream move to Real Madrid. The Spain international is being lined up as a temporary replacement for Éder Militão, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury. However, Laporte’s sizable €20m per year contract at Al Nassr is proving to be an issue. (Relevo)

– Meanwhile, there has been no contact between Real Madrid and former defender Sergio Ramos over possible return to the club as free agent. (Fabrizio Romano)

– And Roma defender Mario Hermoso says he is honoured to be one of Real Madrid’s transfer targets. The 29-year-old is a youth product of Madrid and joined Roma as a free agent in the summer after five seasons at Atletico Madrid. But he claims he could be interested in returning to his former club. (AS)

– River Plate will have to pay €2m to sign Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi in January, as his contract expires in the summer. The 36-ueat-old Argentina international has often expressed his desire to play for River. (Record)

– Lille are pushing to finalize the €15m transfer of Togo and Cercle Brugge forward Kevin Denkey, but FC Cincinnati are also keen. (Rudy Galetti.)

– Real Madrid are considering a €45m move to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, 22, in January. (Daily Mail)

– Wolves left-back Hugo Bueno, who is on loan at Feyenoord, is on the radar of Barcelona. (Sport)

– Crystal Palace want to sign Chelsea’s €70m-winger Mykhailo Mudryk on loan in January. (Football Transfers)

– Liverpool and Chelsea are tracking Red Star Belgrade midfielder Andrija Maksimovic. (TEAMtalk)

– Chelsea could rival Real Madrid and Manchester United for Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan. (TEAMtalk)

– Liverpool don’t want to sell Federico Chiesa in January despite reports to the contrary. (Nicolo Schira)

– Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka has signed with a new agency ahead of the winter transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Borussia Dortmund are “increasingly confident” of signing Sunderland youngster Jobe Bellingham. (Football Insider)