Liverpool transfer news as $95M Barcelona star considered and bid ready for defender

Liverpool transfer news as a Barcelona star is reportedly being considered for a move to Anfield, while the Reds are claimed to be readying a bid for a new defender

Jules Kounde has been linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has plenty of work still to do this season, but it’s already clear that the Reds will need to make some moves in the summer transfer window once it opens.

Arne Slot’s side gave its Champions League hopes a major boost with victory over Sunderland on Wednesday, and the Liverpool boss has already suggested a place at Europe’s top table will be the only acceptable outcome, with the impact it could have on any summer business clear.

Jeremy Jacquet is already on the way, but the Reds look as though they will need more defensive options, with two more being linked in the latest set of rumors.

Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.

Jules Kounde (Club)

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is being linked with a move to Liverpool. Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo cites a supposed report from the Daily Mail claiming the Reds are willing to pay €80 million ($95M) for the 27-year-old, although we’ve been unable to find any such report.

Nevertheless, Mundo Deportivo suggests Barca might be tempted into selling Kounde at that price. That’s suggested as the minimum the Catalan giants would accept, with the French international said to be holding a €1 billion release clause in his contract, which of course is never going to happen.

Liverpool.com says: The validity of this one has to be called into question. Multiple sites are quoting this supposed claim from the Daily Mail, although good luck finding any such report.

Kounde would be a useful option for Liverpool to have, given he can play right-back or center-back, and it's not the first time he has been linked with a move to Anfield, but this rumor just doesn't seem to have much weight behind it.

Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse)

Liverpool is being linked with Charlie Cresswell once again, with Sports Boom suggesting that the Reds are among a number of sides keen on the Toulouse defender.

Cresswell was linked with a move to Anfield last summer, although nothing came of the speculation. The Reds are claimed to have maintained an interest, along with Tottenham, West Ham, Chelsea, Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Charlie Cresswell was linked with Liverpool last summer(Image: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool will reportedly table a bid of over €30 million ($36M), which could be enough to persuade Toulouse to part with the 23-year-old.

Liverpool.com says: Again, we're not too sure on this one. The Cresswell rumors seemed to come and go quite quickly in January, and that would suggest there isn't too much to them.

German side Wolfsburg also seemed to be leading the charge for his signature, and is mentioned again in this report, so you'd have to imagine it'll be front of the queue in the summer. If $36M is needed though, you could absolutely imagine him moving to the Premier League instead.