Here is the Liverpool morning digest for Thursday, January 21.
Klopp offers Van Dijk hope
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Virgil van Dijk's recovery from knee surgery is "really promising" as the defender looks to make his return to the Liverpool team.
Van Dijk has not featured since the Merseyside Derby in October when he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage after a reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The 29-year-old has since spent a lot of time in rehab, sometimes abroad and Klopp offered a positive update on his progress.
"I don’t know what is possible and what is not, I don’t think I am the right person to judge it," he said.
"He looks really good and I spoke to him this morning and he is in a good mood, so it is all very promising. But I don’t know when he will be back. There are for sure a lot of stages to go over and to pass, that is clear.
"I had this injury myself but for the time we are in and how long he is out now, and how long the rehabilitation is going on, he looks really really promising. But that is all."
You can read more about Klopp's comments on Van Dijk's recovery here.
Wijnaldum replacements identified
Gini Wijnaldum is in the final six months of his contract. If he does not sign a new one, Liverpool may have to look for a replacement in the summer, so football scouting writer Josh Williams has provided the ECHO with five potential targets that the Reds could consider.
Two Premier League players are named as potential options, with Brighton's Yves Bissouma and Sheffield United's Sander Berge highlighted in the piece.
The latter is certainly a wildcard selection, but he is a powerful midfielder with a good engine who possesses technical quality on the ball and would perform well in Liverpool's number eight role.
Bissouma, meanwhile, has been linked with an Anfield transfer previously, with ESPN reporting in December that Liverpool view him as a potential Wijnaldum replacement.
Lille's Renato Sanches is the first of two Ligue names offered. The 23-year-old struggled on loan at Swansea City and has been painted in a bad light, but he is finding his feet in the French league and offers an excellent blend of technical quality and deceptive athleticism.
Another French-based target is Eduardo Camavinga. Still only 18 years old, Camavinga stands north of six feet tall and offers terrific mobility and speed. He can break up play but also carry the ball forwards and offers tremendous potential given his age.
And finally, Williams highlights Ajax's Ryan Gravenberch, who broke the Dutch club's record for the youngest-ever debutant, which is truly significant for a team of Ajax's youth pedigree.
Only 18, and 6-foot-3, Gravenberch looks set to be the next great Ajax product. Liverpool could take advantage.
