The Hard Tackle brings to you all the news revolving around Liverpool FC
Liverpool brace themselves for the Merseyside derby away at Goodison Park on Monday night. And while they prepare for the ‘war’, The Hard Tackle rounds up all the news in and around the club that is Liverpool.
Reds enter Thiago Maia race
ESPN Brazil have claimed that Liverpool are among a host of five European clubs that have entered the race to sign Santos starlet Thiago Maia. The 19-year-old has been previously linked with moves to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Juventus.
Thiago Maia recently won the gold with Brazil at the Rio Olympics and has been hailed as a one-of-a-kind product from the region. Brazilians are normally associated with technique and versatility. Thiago Maia, on the other hand, is a no-nonsense defensive midfielder who loves to don the role of an anchor man or an enforcer.
Liverpool need a cover for Jordan Henderson and a player as energetic and hungry as Thiago Maia would be a perfect addition to the squad as Jurgen Klopp aims to mount a title challenge and, hopefully, a successful one at that.
Santos have already rejected few bids for the 19-year-old. Zenit’s €18m offer was swiftly dealt with while Napoli also saw their €12m bid knocked back by the Brazilian outfit. The growing interest in the 19-year-old is likely to inflate his valuation in Santos’s eyes and Liverpool may need to splurge in excess of €20m in order to land the player.
But any fee spent to get a hold of the player could turn out to be a bargain if he develops into even half of what he has touted as.
Fresh contract for Coutinho to ward off suitors?
Liverpool are preparing a new long-term deal for Coutinho to put to rest the speculation surrounding the Brazilian’s future at Anfield. The player has been continuously linked with Barcelona and French giants Paris Saint Germain, and it looks like the Liverpool hierarchy is ready to put an end to all these rumours.
As per the report, Manchester City have also entered the race for the Samba sensation with the City hierarchy eyeing the attacking midfielder as a replacement for David Silva. The interest from City might just be the tipping point, but irrespective of what the reason may have been, the Reds are preparing a new deal for Coutinho despite the fact that the 25-year-old signed an extension only 18 months ago.
The report entails that the Reds are preparing a bumper £150k per-week pay package as part of the new terms in order to get Coutinho to commit to the club long-term. The aforementioned pay would also make the Brazilian the highest paid player on the roster, something which would signify the Reds’ intent on keeping the player at Anfield while also showing that the club realise his importance to the squad.
Liverpool become first Premier League club to enter ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ Hall of Fame
Liverpool FC were indicted into the Hall of Fame by ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ (SRtRC) on the occasion of the anti-racism charity’s 20th anniversary celebrations at the Houses of Parliament last week. The Reds became the first Premier League club to be welcomed into the SRtRC Hall of Fame.
Simon Thornton, equality and diversity advisor at Liverpool, said, “On behalf of the club I would like to thank SRtRC for welcoming us in to their Hall of Fame, which we are extremely proud to be a part of.”
“We are very passionate about tackling all aspects of discrimination and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion both on and off the pitch. It’s fantastic that our hard work has been recognised and rewarded by SRtRC.”
Liverpool have supported the anti-racism cause for several years and have contributed to the awareness of the issue even at the grassroots level by hosting an annual educational event for more than 100 school-goers, an event they hosted this year as they have been doing in the previous nine as well.
Other news:
Bayern Munich attacker has tipped his countryman Memphis Depay, who was previously linked with Liverpool, to turn it around, albeit at a club other than Manchester United.
Joel Matip’s presence at the back as a partner to Dejan Lovren has improved and raised Lovren’s individual game as well as providing steel to the backline, according to pundit Phil Thompson. (Sky Sports)
