Liverpool will not move for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon this summer, 90min understands, but have a keen eye on Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville.
The Reds bid an emotional goodbye to manager Jurgen Klopp on Sunday as they prepare to usher in a new era under Arne Slot, who has been appointed as head coach on a three-year contract after a successful stint at Dutch giants Feyenoord.
Klopp was in charge of Liverpool for eight-and-a-half years, so his departure along with his coaching staff will mark a significant shift in operations at Anfield, who have also welcomed Michael Edwards and Julian Ward back into the fold and have Richard Hughes officially starting as sporting director on June 1.
Hughes will work alongside Dave Fallows, Barry Hunter, Will Spearman – who head up Liverpool’s scouting and data analysis operations – and Slot to map out and assess transfer targets, though a good portion of the groundwork has already been laid for the upcoming summer window.
90min understands that priority areas for recruitment include signing a wide, creative-minded player (winger or forward) and a centre-back, and there’s expected to be a focus not only on Europe’s top leagues but also in South America – Hunter recently went to Brazil to look at various options and assess some of the country’s brightest young prospects.
Two players to have been linked to Liverpool are Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon and Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, both of whom have had superb seasons, but sources have told 90min that neither player will be pursued this summer.
Liverpool do appreciate Gordon’s talents but feel that a deal for the 23-year-old, who was included in England’s preliminary Euro 2024 squad on Tuesday after 21 Premier League goal contributions last season, will be too expensive and difficult to agree with Newcastle.
Instead, Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville could be the subject of a summer approach, particularly if the club fail to beat Southampton in Sunday’s Championship play-off final.
The Dutch Under-21 international has enjoyed a fine season at Elland Road, scoring 20 goals to help Daniel Farke’s side have a chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking. He is primarily a right-footed left winger but is versatile enough to play on the opposite flank – a trait that Liverpool have often liked in forwards.
In terms of budget, Liverpool are expected to have a good chunk of money to spend, evidenced by their failed pursuit of Moises Caicedo last summer. The Reds had agreed to pay a total package in excess of £110m for the Ecuadorian midfielder but he ultimately chose to join Chelsea instead. Wataru Endo ended up joining from VfB Stuttgart for just £16m.
Centre-back wise, strong interest remains in Tah’s Bundesliga adversary, Willian Pacho, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and Liverpool continue to admire Levi Colwill from afar. They recognise, however, that a move for the 21-year-old isn’t likely to be feasible this summer.