Liverpool have found out exactly how much they will need to pay for a Brazilian wonderkid who's become linked with a move to Anfield in recent weeks.
The centre of the park has become a cause of concern for manager Jurgen Klopp in recent weeks. Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson have struggled with injury issues, along with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones. James Milner has been forced to start a lot – and at 36, it seems like that he's coming to the end of his career on Merseyside.
The Reds, of course, brought in another Brazilian star, in the form of Arthur Melo on Deadline Day. The Juventus star was drafted in on loan for the rest of the season and can be signed for an optional fee of around £30m, should Klopp wish to make the deal permanent.
But a longer-term target has emerged in the shape of Flamengo star Joao Gomes. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano recently tweeted that Gomes told ESPN he would like to play for the Reds – and now it appears that the Reds know how much they'll have to pay for his services.
Mundo Deportivo have stated that the 21-year-old will be available for around €60 million – or £53m.
Liverpool don't have a Plan B to their first-choice defensive midfielder, Fabinho, with Henderson tasked with filling the void in the Brazilian's absence. Gomes would most likely be a successor to the hugely effective former Monaco man at No.6 – though he may be used as an interior.
Teenage starlets Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott are both options as No.8s on either side of a more defensive-minded midfielder. It's also thought that Liverpool are extremely interested in bringing Dortmund star Jude Bellingham to the club next summer.
Real Madrid are also said to be interested in a move for Gomes, though with the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in their ranks, Gomes is more likely to get regular game-time under Klopp.
The 21-year-old is valued at around £9m by Transfermarkt.
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Manchester United may have stolen a march on Liverpool in the race for Jude Bellingham, according to reports. Another United target, Jurrien Timber, has been praised by Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk, while Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes has admitted he'd like to play for the Reds.
The Merseysiders' bad start to the season is still big news. Van Dijk says he knows he can improve, while Diogo Jota has said he wants to become the team's main man. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defending by one ex-Chelsea player, while his opposite full-back, Andrew Robertson – who missed the Nations League fixtures with Scotland – has hinted that he would be tempted to move to Celtic.
Former Liverpool icon Luis Garcia has suggested that perhaps Mohamed Salah needs a rest, while in other news, his fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso has explained the aura of Anfield.
