Liverpool transfer news and rumours: James Milner tipped for left-back role; Jese to leave Madrid; Andre Ayew update
Friday's biggest Liverpool transfer news and rumours to hit the gossip columns
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Your support makes all the difference.Another day, another disappointment for Jurgen Klopp in his hunt for a new Liverpool left-back. Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell agreed a new five-year contract with the Premier League champions meaning the German must not look elsewhere for cover for Alberto Moreno.
As reported by this website, the 19-year-old was watched by Liverpool scouts during Leicester’s pre-match fixtures against Oxford and Celtic this summer but the Foxes have been able to convince him that his future lies at the King Power Stadium. According to the Daily Telegraph this morning, Klopp is now considering converting James Milner into a left-back instead.
Moreno suffered a nightmare end to the last campaign, summed by the torrid display against Sevilla in the Europa League final, but Liverpool appear to have been forced to keep the faith in the Spaniard ahead of the new Premier League season.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, meanwhile, has hinted that he may be prepared to offload midfielder Jese Rodriguez amid rumours linking him with Arsenal and Liverpool.
“If he wants to leave to play more, I don’t know,” he said after Real’s 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. “It’s our first game. He’s here, he played. Everyone’s here, that’s all I can say now.”
The 23-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at the European champions, starting just seven matches in La Liga last term, but is still considered one of the most assured midfielders on the continent.
Reports suggest that Klopp is monitoring his situation in the event of an opening forming before the window closes at the end of August.
Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti once branded the Spaniard as an “insane talent” but is unlikely to rival Liverpool for his signature this summer.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are said to be locked in a two-way battle with Andre Ayew, the Swansea City forward, with the Essex Chronicle reporting that West Ham currently hold the advantage.
The 26-year-old scored 12 goals for the Swans last term on his debut season in English football but tailed off at times as the Welsh club battled against relegation.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, the report adds, wants £16m for Ayew in a demand which could prove to be a stumbling block for both Liverpool and West Ham in the coming weeks.
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