The final international break of the calendar year has been and gone and will now be succeeded by a congested club fixture schedule which will put Liverpool ’s squad to the test.
It has already been a costly international break for the Reds with a serious injury for defender Joe Gomez, who will join his defensive partner Virgil Van Dijk as a long-term absentee, while Mohamed Salah has tested positive for Covid-19.
It is inevitable that the club will consider freshening up their options in the January window should the opportunities arise, particularly defensively.
There are also peripheral figures at the club who were not moved on in the summer window, and the possibility of their exits will once again arise this time around.
Here are the latest Liverpool transfer rumours for Friday, November 20 as clubs begin to look ahead to the January transfer window.
Barcelona pull out of the race for Liverpool target
Wolves winger Adama Traore has developed into one of the Premier League’s most wanted players due to his form both at club level and for the Spanish national team.
A report in Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo claims Barcelona have now discontinued their pursuit of Traore, which Caught Offside now say will clear the way for the Reds to make a move.
They note a report from The Sun which speaks of longstanding interest from Jurgen Klopp in the player and a move may now be possible.
Reds eye Bayern Munich star
Liverpool are one of three clubs who want to sign David Alaba when his contract expires at Bayern Munich this summer.
The Reds are said to be fighting interest from both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the Austrian international, according to a report in Marca and cited by Sports Mole .
Alaba is highly sought after due to his versatility in between defence and midfield, with Bayern deploying him at left-back and central midfield in recent times.
The star has amassed just shy of 400 appearances for the first-team at Bayern but he now looks set to be available as a free agent next summer as contract extension talks are at a standstill.
Quartet want Reds midfield ace
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Inter are reportedly among the clubs keen on a deal to sign Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum next summer.
The Dutch midfielder is out of contract at Anfield next summer and a report in Spanish website Todo Fichajes , via Sempre Milan , has the details of the clubs circling for Wijnaldum.
Barcelona’s interest is seemingly fuelled by Ronald Koeman, who coached Wijnaldum at international level, while Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to be keen to add another midfield option to his club’s ranks.
