Klopp attended secret transfer meeting in move to ruin Man Utd transfer plan

16 July 2023 , 14:05

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Klopp attended secret transfer meeting in move to ruin Man Utd transfer plan

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is driving the club’s transfer interest in Sofyan Amrabat and has already met this year with the agent of the Fiorentina midfielder.

Manchester United are also pursuing a deal for Moroccan international Amrabat with the club hopeful that Erik ten Hag’s relationship with the player is decisive. The United boss previously coached Amrabat during their time together at FC Utrecht in the Netherlands.

The United boss has been extremely virtuous towards the player – heralding his stamina and desire to place the team above himself, a quality which he holds in the upmost regard. Yet Liverpool are in the market for the player as they seek a replacement for Fabinho – who is likely to leave Anfield.

The Brazilian looks almost certain to move on in a deal worth £40million. The Reds have signed Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer but with Fabinho likely to leave coupled with Jordan Henderson (with Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already exiting) demands defensive midfield reinforcements.

A report in The Athletic outlines how Amrabat is on Liverpool’s summer shortlist, with Southampton ’s Romeo Lavia also on their radar alongside Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City.

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Amrabat starred for Morocco at the World Cup as they eliminated Spain and Portugal en route to the semi-finals. His performances in Qatar prompted links with the Merseyside Reds, among other clubs, with reports claiming Klopp held a secret meeting with the player's agent.

Amrabat was a standout star for Morocco at last year's World Cup (Getty Images)

Have Your Say! Should Amrabat join Liverpool or Man Utd ? Tell us what you think here.

The Reds have already been credited with an interest in the holding midfielder, while it is suggested that he could be open to leaving the Italian club. Fiorentina reached the Europa Conference League final last season, beaten by West Ham, but failed to qualify for European football.

Amrabat played every minute for Morocco during their remarkable World Cup run last month as they topped Group F ahead of Croatia and Belgium before beating 2010 champions Spain on penalties. They then eliminated Portugal in the quarter-finals, preceding defeats against France and then Croatia in the third-placed playoff.

Liverpool’s need for a midfielder is significantly greater than United’s, who signed Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer and secured Mason Mount ’s signature this year. They are light in defensive midfield options, but Klopp’s needs are much more pressing.

Colin Millar