Lewis Steele provided insight into a wide array of subjects in a Q&A.
The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele conducted a wide-ranging Q&A on Liverpool FC, covering transfers, contract renewals, and more. Let’s comb through the highlights.
On a potential Antoine Semenyo transfer, he had this to say:
“Semenyo was certainly one that was talked about at Anfield at the start of the summer window. Now the only problem is there’s so many teams that are in for him.”
“Can’t read it too much, but he gave tickets to his old friends for old Trafford game on Monday.”
“But I think if Liverpool really wanted to do this sign and they could. And I think that with all due respect to Tottenham and Man United, I think if you’ve got them free in front of you, you choose Liverpool.”
For Marc Guehi, and if the transfer will happen, and if it’ll happen in January or the summer:
“I still think Liverpool have a really good chance of signing Guehi. The only question is, is that in January for a fee or is that in the summer for nothing?”
“I think Guehi himself would rather it be in the summer. He’s playing in Europe for the 1st time with Crystal Palace, I think he feels a bit of a loyalty to not leave midseason and also if he leaves on a free, then he gets good money in terms of the wages.”
“Liverpool aren’t the only team in for him, we know Bayern Munich is sniffing around. Manchester City, Real Madrid would like to have a go as well.”
“But I just wonder whether there’s a sort of under the table, gentlemen’s agreement between Liverpool and Guehi, from September the 1st or whatever date it was, because they were literally that close to him signing.”
“I think Liverpool have every chance. The word from the club may be caution over a January transfer, but on August the 30th, the word from the club was not going to sign Alexander Isak and look what happened there.”
“So I think Liverpool have every chance of getting him in January. If not, the summer.”
Steele was also asked about the murmurs that have been circulating about Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton:
“Nothing imminent. I can’t see Liverpool signing a midfielder in January. But I think Adam Wharton certainly has his admirers at Anfield, and he could be one to watch for the summer.”
Harvey Elliott’s bizarre loan to Aston Villa, where he hasn’t played since October, was also addressed:
“The clubs could shake hands in January on terminating the loan agreement, it doesn’t really benefit anyone.”
When asked if Arne Slot was frustrated by the failure of recruitment to get any transfer deal over the line, Steele said:
“I don’t think there’s any frustration from Slot. It’s easy to say in hindsight, but I think Slot was perfectly happy with the window. “
On contract renewals, Ibrahima Konaté’s situation doesn’t seem to have changed much, even with Real Madrid pulling out of the race to sign him:
“Konate and Liverpool have been in talks over a new deal for nearly 18 months. So far, they have been very far apart.”
“We haven’t really ever heard from Konate whether he actually is all in on wanting to stay at Liverpool. Although interest from Madrid has become weaken, PSG would always appeal to him for his nationality, I’m sure that they would maybe consider it if they got some encouragement, but as of yet, it does seem more likely than not that he would be at Liverpool.”
“I don’t think that Liverpool would be removing any contract offering.”
Also on contract renewals, early talks have begun for key midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister:
“There are talks underway, very preliminary talk, but I think Liverpool are keen to extend all 3 of those deals.”
Last but not least, Steele answered some questions about the status of some squad members, including injured players, and the ones on the periphery of the squad. For Jeremie Frimpong, who is nearing a return:
“Very, very soon. Maybe not quite ready to play at the weekend, but I think he’ll be back in full training in the next couple of days, certainly in the next week, he’s been back in the grass for a while now doing some 1v1 gym stuff as well.”
Steele had a very interesting answer concerning Federico Chiesa, and his inability to get any starts:
“Slot, wouldn’t mind me saying it, just doesn’t seem like he trusts him(Chiesa). That’s just a guess that I got because I know when they lost at Plymouth, Slot was furious with Chiesa. He was one of the senior players on that day and he just didn’t seem to (perform), a few people have said how frustrated Slot was.”
“I just think what Chiesa has to do is,to prove to Arne Slot that he deserves a chance because if you lose in every game, you can’t get a game. Then you sort of think that maybe he doesn’t like him at all.“
It seems to me like Chiesa could come off the bench and score every week. He still wouldn’t play.”
The Plymouth game stuck out in my mind for a while after it happened, but he’s had so many key moments after that so it’s bizarre. But I’m also not a professional football coach so…
On the status of Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns, who are working their way back from surgeries:
“Stefan Bajcetic has been back on the grass at certain points of the last month.And I think the plan is to maybe get him into U21 for a bit. Jayden Danns is also stepping up his recovery. “
Well, that was a buffet of information. Liverpool play Tottenham Hotspur next on Saturday in North London. Up the Reds.
Category: General Sports
