Former Liverpool loanee Nuri Sahin is set for a dramatic reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, according to the latest reports, with speculation also growing around moves for Ruben Neves of Porto and Andrea Ranocchia of Inter Milan.  

New Reds manager Klopp is reported to be eyeing former Borussia Dortmund charge Sahin after the midfielder spent a miserable five months on Merseyside, according to the Liverpool Echo‘s Joe Rimmer.

The Turkey international was supposed to spend the entire 2012-13 campaign with Liverpool, but Dortmund agreed to cut the deal short in January 2013 after Sahin failed to settle in.

Klopp put that failure down to the mistakes of predecessor Brendan Rodgers, and Adam Skinner of the Daily Express provided quotes from the German, who said at the time: “It was the wrong position [for Sahin to play]. If you are a No. 8 or 6 and you have to as a No. 9 or 10 – it’s not possible. For some guys of course it’s possible, but Nuri’s a brilliant player – not nine-and-a-half and not 10 – and I don’t know why Brendan Rodgers would do this.”

Those comments suggest Reds fans will be appeased in seeing Klopp give players time in their preferred positions, and handing Sahin another Liverpool lifeline could be a sly way of establishing tactical superiority over Rodgers.

However, Sahin hasn’t made an appearance since February after suffering a serious knee injury, and ESPN FC’s Stefan Buczko quoted Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, who insisted a return to fitness isn’t yet in sight:

That wouldn’t prevent Klopp from pushing Liverpool to move for a player in whom he already has plenty of confidence, and it was under him that Sahin enjoyed his best years, including the 2011 Bundesliga title triumph.

Liverpool have already had to endure injury setbacks in the middle of the park this season with captain Jordan Henderson missing and Joe Allen struggling for full fitness, but Sahin could add another quality playmaking option.

 

Liverpool Scout Record-Breaker Neves

Liverpool scouts were on hand to witness Porto maestro Neves become the youngest player to ever captain a team in the Champions League during their 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

According to the Daily Mirror‘s Ed Malyon, an “informal approach” has been made for the 18-year-old playmaker, who is understood to be attracting interest from a raft of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez took note of the teenager as a unique talent upon seeing Neves enter the European history books earlier this week:

Liverpool’s engine-room options have been hit by Henderson’s recent injury, but Neves could make for an expensive target considering Porto’s record of making a mint from their exports.

Dragons manager Julen Lopetegui is understandably eager to distance any and all hype from his sensation, per Metro‘s Primeira Liga expert Jan Hagen:

Sky Sports reported Chelsea are also understood to be following his progress, with a release clause of €40 million (£29 million) in his current contract, which expires in June 2017.

Neves is expected to receive senior honours for Portugal soon after already becoming the youngest player ever to represent their under-21s and making 37 appearances for Porto last season.

Klopp showed at Mainz and Dortmund a willingness to promote youth within the first-team ranks, and Neves is another who would definitely be seeking a starting spot were he to make any move to Anfield in 2016.

 

Reds in Hunt for January Ranocchia Deal

A long line of suitors are understood to be queuing up for the services of Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia as Liverpool join the likes of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in jostling for his signature.

TalkSPORT reported Nerazzurri manager Roberto Mancini is open to offloading the centre-back when the transfer window re-opens in January, leaving the Reds open to make their move.

Ranocchia is yet to make a start this season and has played just 70 minutes of football across five Serie A cameos thus far, evidently no longer a part of Mancini’s plans at the San Siro.

What’s more, Di Marzio translator David Amoyal proclaimed Italy manager Antonio Conte shares no affection for the 27-year-old, meaning Liverpool may not have to worry themselves with international call-ups:

The season-ending injury recently sustained by Joe Gomez limits Liverpool’s options at centre-back, while Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho gave a positive account of their partnership in Klopp’s debut 0-0 draw at Spurs.

The Reds recently had their defensive depth tested by the absence of the injured Dejan Lovren, and a move for another centre-back would seem logical, especially if Ranocchia were available for a cut-price figure.

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