Injury-Hit Liverpool To Spend $73M As Klopp Is Eyeing Man Utd, Arsenal’s Targets: Reports

Injury-hit Liverpool FC are reportedly preparing to sign Brighton duo Ben White and Yves Bissouma at the January transfer window.

White has been on Liverpool’s list ever since Virgil van Dijk suffered the season-ending ACL injury that he had picked up during the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October. With Joe Gomez also expected to be out of action in the remainder of the 2020-21 season, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is looking to strengthen his defense in January, as reported by soccer website Teamtalk.

White, 23, was impressive in his season-long run in the Championship, the second-tier league in England, during his loan stint with Leeds United. It is believed that The Whites, who have been promoted to Premier League, bid $40 million for the center-back. But Brighton rejected the offer for the player, who they value in high regard. The Teamtalk report has also claimed that White, who began his youth soccer career at Southampton, has a current market price of at least $66 million. Apart from Liverpool, Manchester United are also interested in the services of the young center-back.

With Gini Wijnaldum out of contract this summer, Klopp is also looking to sign a midfielder and has his eyes on Bissouma, who is also one of Arsenal’s targets ahead of the upcoming transfer market, according to the Teamtalk.

Reds midfielder Naby Keita is injury prone, while the Anfield side’s summer signing from Bayern Munich Thiago Alcantara has hardly featured in their ongoing season. There is still no certain information about Alcantara’s return, adding to Klopp’s woes.

Brighton paid $20 million for Bissouma, who moved from Lilee to the Flamer Stadium side in 2018. Having represented the Seagulls in 67 competitive matches so far, the 24-year-old Bissouma has impressed with his performances time and again and he is deserving among Liverpool’s transfer targets. It is understood that Brighton have stamped Bissouma with an asking price of at least $33 million that could go up to $40 million.

That would mean, taking into account White and Bissouma’s prices, Liverpool will have to shell out a minimum of $73 million in order to revive their defense department in January.