With potential deals for Piotr Zielinski and Mahmoud Dahoud having screeched to a halt, according to the Echo, Liverpool are back to square one in our pursuit of a new midfielder.
Well, another name we can rule out is Axel Witsel. Russian journalist and Liverpool expert Artur Petrosyan has confirmed that we have not lodged a bid for the Zenit St Petersburg star.
Petrosyan, the editor-in-chief of Sport-Express.ru, understands that there are only two clubs in for the £16m-rated Belgian international as he seeks to leave Russia, one of whom is Everton.
But apparently we have little reason to be concerned about Witsel potentially ending up at our Merseyside rivals. Petrosyan tweeted suggesting that we would have a lucky escape not signing him.
#LFC have not (luckily) made any bids for Witsel. It’s between Everton (better offer) and Napoli (Champs League). He’s around £16m+bonuses.
— Artur Petrosyan (@arturpetrosyan) July 4, 2016
Witsel is slower than Can, not tough enough, will be overrun and overfought constantly if ends up in England. Not Klopp’s type of player.
— Artur Petrosyan (@arturpetrosyan) July 4, 2016
Witsel played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2016 campaign before they were knocked out by Wales in Friday’s quarter-final, with Joe Allen again in superb form for the Red Dragons.
With potential midfield signings seemingly dropping like flies, is it time that Allen, who is out of contract next summer, got his chance to nail down a first-team spot at Anfield?
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