Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Reds 'lead race' for Alvaro Morata as Gary Cahill tipped for Merseyside deal

Effervescent German manager Jurgen Klopp has addressed any transfer rumours with cryptic enthusiasm. Speaking to the club’s website after yesterday’s draw with West Ham United he said: “Hopefully, one player or other will come back from injury in the next few weeks and then we’ll have enough players.

“For what happens in the transfer market, you have to wait in the next 48 hours and we will see if something happens or not.”

Read into those comments as you will; maybe something will happen. But maybe not; perhaps it’s a German mind game that emanates from an intellectual perspective above a football journalist's. Or maybe Liverpool won’t be signing anyone at all. That hasn’t stopped the rumours though, of which there are some fleeting ones.

Starting at the Telegraph who today report that Joel Matip is being encouraged to move to Anfield. The Schalke defender is out of contract in the summer and former Real Madrid centre back Christoph Metzelder has encouraged the defender from his former club to move. “Joel is free. If the interest is from England and he wants to have an experience abroad, then Liverpool is a super destination for him.

“Jurgen knows he can work very well with him,” he continued.

“For Joel it would be an easier entry into a new country and a new environment."

With the German’s contract expiring in the summer, Liverpool are unlikely to make a move for the player until then. To their credit, Schalke appear determined to hold on to the player. General Manager Horst Heldt has had this to say: "We have agreed to an appointment [with the player’s advisor] which will take place soon,"

“I remain in good spirits and I hope that we can convince Joel to stay at Schalke.”

To Italy and gossip specialists Calicomercato who are reporting that Liverpool lead the race to sign Spanish international Alvaro Morata. This rumour has been doing the rounds for quite some time but is unlikely to go through. Juventus are unwilling to sell whilst Real Madrid have a buy-back clause in Morata’s contract.

Ben Chilwell is still being chased by a number of clubs including Liverpool according to the Telegraph’s John Percy. “Leicester insists the defender is not for sale but there are issues with his contract and a departure seems likely - though the feeling is that a move is for the summer.”

Elsewhere Danny Murphy has tipped Gary Cahill for a move to Anfield. “Would he suit Liverpool? Would he be a player that gets into the Liverpool team and make a difference? Yes, he would," Murphy informed TalkSport.

“He’s a terrific lad, a good pro, a good trainer and not a moaner or a whinger.

“He’s a winner and every time I see him play I think he’d die for the team, he gives it everything he’s got. If he does become available, there a few clubs would pay good money for him.”

And whilst Murphy is right to ascribe these features to the England international, there seems little evidence he will swap London for Merseyside. Whilst the London Evening Standard reported that the player was unsettled this week, it’s not thought that Chelsea will be willing to let him go.

The Blues have just signed Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls and Cahill is needed as cover should John Terry or Kurt Zouma find themselves injured. So that deal is unlikely to be a goer.

The Mirror are reporting that club legend Phil Thompson believes the Reds should have signed Charlie Austin. The former QPR man went to Southampton to a mere £4 million. "They should have signed Charlie Austin. It's a case of needs must and for the price Southampton paid he would have been worth a gamble. And he's a Liverpool fan."

To be fair to Phil, the last cut price Liverpool fan to move to Anfield was the former beetroot factory worker Ricky Lambert. With a solid two goals in 25 games perhaps Jurgen Klopp felt that proven top flight talent was a better deciding factor than the emotional sway of the heart.

Are these the kind of players that you want to see at Liverpoool, or should Jurgen Klopp be looking at other individuals? Let us know in the comment box below.