Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Nemanja Vidic not wanting return; Gonzalo Higuain to arrive for £30m; Oussama Assaidi joins Al Ahli
The latest transfer news and rumours surrounding Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.LIVERPOOL ARRIVALS…
Gonzalo Higuain continues to be linked with a move to Anfield with Napoli yet to confirm whether the striker will leave during the current transfer window. The Argentinian striker has cropped up in numerous Liverpool reports and could be on his way out of Napoli following their acquisition of Manolo Gabbiadini and a need to balance the books. Higuain would not come cheap with any deal expected to be around the £30m mark, but Liverpool can fund the deal with the exit of Mario Balotelli.
The Italian has been linked with a loan move to Olympiakos and Juventus while Paris St-Germain continue to be linked with a surprise permanent move should either Edinson Cavani or Ezequiel Lavezzi leave this month.
The club could also be leaning towards allowing Lucas Leiva to join Inter Milan for £7m, but only if they are able to land Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph as a replacement. The Mirror reports that the sale of Lucas will be needed to generate the funds for a move for Delph, although it's a case of both or neither as Brendan Rodgers is unwilling to weaken his squad without adding a suitable replacement.
HANDS OFF…
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been warned off Lyon winger Alexandre Lacazette by the French club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas, despite the player’s admission that his future lies away from Ligue 1.
Lacazette has already said that he sees his future in either “England or Spain” which prompted talk of a move to Liverpool, among other leading Premier League clubs. While the 23-year-old winger would add to Liverpool’s attack, he is unlikely to fit in Rodgers’ current formation that incorporates wing-backs rather than out-and-out wingers, and now the club have been told in no uncertain terms that he will not leave Lyon this month.
"I don’t think there will be any movement for [Lacazette],” said Aulas. “Our goal is to become a top European club in the next five years, and that’s why we don’t want to sell him. I spoke with Man City, but it was about other topics and not a transfer. There will be no departures in the winter and I also think the same in the summer.”
According to reports in Italy, Nemanja Vidic has ruled out a Premier League return with Liverpool in order to stay at Inter Milan. The former Manchester United would certainly cause a stir if he were to move to Anfield, but it’s believed he has turned down any chance to join Liverpool on loan for the rest of the season. The Serbian returned to the starting line-up this weekend against Genoa and managed to get on the scoresheet in the 3-1 victory.
DONE DEAL…
Liverpool have also confirmed the sale of Oussama Assaidi to Dubai club Al Ahli for £4.7m, which represents an increase on the £2.4m the Reds paid Heerenveen in 2012. Assaidi has been on loan with Stoke this season after a successful spell at the Britannia in 2013-14.
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