BREAKING: Kylian Mbappe ‘gives greenlight and encourages’ Jurgen Klopp to make opening bid to push for transfer

BREAKING: Kylian Mbappe ‘gives greenlight and encourages’ Jurgen Klopp to make opening bid to push for transfer

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s transfer business shows no signs of slowing down – with midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson wanted by clubs in Saudi Arabia

Jurgen Klopp has already signed two players this summer – so who will be the next star to move to Merseyside?

Alexis Mac Allister was the first player to join Klopp’s squad during the ongoing window, with Liverpool paying an initial £35million for the Brighton midfielder – a bargain in many people’s eyes.

The World Cup winner was soon followed by Dominik Szoboszlai after the Reds activated the Hungary captain’s £60m release clause at RB Leipzig.

Klopp is trying to rebuild his squad after finishing a disappointing fifth in the Premier League last season. The Liverpool manager has already said goodbye to a number of fan favourites this summer, including Roberto Firmino and James Milner.

Mbappe gives approval

Liverpool are interested in signing Rennes winger Jeremy Doku, according to CaughtOffside. The Belgium international, 21, scored seven goals and provided four assists for Rennes last season and has two years remaining on his existing deal.

It’s claimed Liverpool are prioritising strengthening other areas of their squad but could swoop for Doku if the price is right. Napoli, AC Milan and Aston Villa are also thought to be considering a bid for the player, who would prefer a move to the Premier League.

Doku has many admirers, including Kylian Mbappe. The World Cup winner told France Football in 2021: “Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me from the stands… because of his speed qualities, that is Doku, at Rennes.”

Rennes have reportedly slapped a €40m (£34.4m) price tag on Doku. As quoted by Get French Football News, Mbappe added: “In five years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.”

Saudi latest

Fabinho remains a Liverpool player… for now. As reported by the Liverpool ECHO, the Reds and Al-Ittihad are still locked in talks over a £40m transfer. The Brazil international, 29, was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their pre-season training camp in Germany.

Club captain Jordan Henderson is also wanted by a Saudi club – Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq – and his future hangs in the balance. Yet unlike Fabinho, the 33-year-old midfielder is in Germany with the rest of Liverpool’s squad.

If Fabinho or Henderson leaves Liverpool this summer, Klopp is expected to sign another central midfielder. One rumoured target is Sofyan Amrabat, the Fiorentina star who helped Morocco reach the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

According to the Daily Mail, Fiorentina want £25m for Amrabat. The 26-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract and is wanted by several clubs, including Manchester United. In Liverpool’s eyes, that could be problematic for two reasons.

United can offer Amrabat something Liverpool can’t – Champions League football – and the player has worked with Erik ten Hag before. Amrabat’s breakthrough season as a professional came at Utrecht when Ten Hag was in charge of the Dutch side