🔴 Blood Red: Liverpool angered as Curtis Jones bid rejected, Felix Nmecha interest, Rio Ngumoha future

Good morning and welcome to Saturday’s edition of the Blood Red newsletter, brought to you by me, Stephen Killen.

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No, I didn’t forget about you, what are you talking about? In all seriousness, we have a rare Saturday upload for you. With the World Cup, it is so difficult to keep on top of everything and with writing this throughout the week, especially with matches in the early hours here in the UK.

But it has been a quiet week on the Liverpool front, believe it or not! We are approaching the end of the Group Stages at the World Cup and the beginning the knockouts.

Which means we are one step closer to the Premier League starting. We will also have the fixtures here for you, which were released last Friday.

Before we start, please subscribe, it’s free.

😡 Liverpool have grown irritated by Inter Milan’s pursuit of midfielder Curtis Jones after a second bid was rejected. The Italian side tabled a £21million offer that fell considerably short of the Reds’ valuation (The Times).

💵 The Reds are more than happy for him to stay but he is valued at £35million (The Telegraph - tweet).

🔥 Yan Diomande is a name on the lips of Liverpool fans this summer. The 19-year-old, who is on international duty at the World Cup with Ivory Coast, insists that his club future can wait.

💰 Liverpool communicated their willingness to pay £86million to RB Leipzig for his services, which was rejected. The German side is reluctant to sell, while his agents are sounding out Europe’s biggest clubs, with Liverpool the most advanced at the moment (Liverpool ECHO).

👊 More on Cody Gakpo later but he has been in fine form for Holland, as he always seems to be, and the Liverpool winger explained why he is in fine form for Oranje.

He said:

“It’s a little bit different. How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have than at the club. That’s it basically.”

👀 Liverpool are keeping an eye on the situation of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. The Reds have been named as a club closely monitoring the 25-year-old’s future, as well as Manchester City and Real Madrid, but Manchester United are stepping up their pursuit (Patrick Berger - Sky Germany).
NOTE: Not the former Liverpool man.

🗣 Victor Munoz has broken his silence about the move to Liverpool and the role that the new Reds head coach, Andoni Iraola, played in the deal.

He told EFE:

“It was all very fast, but when this opportunity comes up you can’t let it escape. It’s something unique to be able to play at Anfield. My family and I had no doubts. It’s a chapter that can be very beautiful. I had the pleasure of talking to him. He gave me his confidence, how his team plays. He played an important role when choosing.”

🚦 Liverpool are in the conversation to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has been a breakout star for Morocco at the World Cup. But the Reds are not at the forefront of it with Real Madrid and Arsenal seemingly better placed (Daily Mail).

😯 Championship side Burnley made a late attempt to make Tommy Elphick their new manager. However, a deal to join Andoni Iraola at Liverpool is too far down the line (Alex Crook).

🤩 Liverpool have made a new attempt to sign PSG winger Bradley Barcola. The winger is said to be tempted by a move to Anfield and the idea of playing in the Premier League (Le10Sport via The Standard).

🪄 Julian Alvarez is in the middle of a transfer controversy as Barcelona and Real Madrid jostle over the Atletico Madrid star. One player who played in Catalonia and the Spanish capital is former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan, who was the subject of an astonishing bid from Arsenal during his time at Liverpool, has revealed what Steven Gerrard did during that time when comparing Alvarez’s situation.

He said:

“The same thing happened to me at Liverpool. I said I wanted to go to Arsenal, then Steven Gerrard came and convinced me that I had to stay. He told me that if I had a great year, they would help me go to Barcelona, Madrid or Bayern, wherever I wanted.”

✍ Liverpool are keen to get Rio Ngumoha tied down to a longer contract once he turns 18 at the end of August. It comes after the ‘bizarre’ transfer story that emerged where Bayern Munich sought to sign the England starlet - when Liverpool never receiving an official approach (The Athletic).

Just a disclaimer that the next fixtures with (subject to change) hinge on the best third-placed table.

Mohamed Salah captained Egypt to history after scoring and assisting in a 3-1 win over New Zealand. The Liverpool icons’ contributions meant that the Pharaohs picked up their first ever win at a World Cup. And well, the scenes after the gamme were sensational, it was superb to see Mo so happy.

Next match - South Korea (subject to change) July 1.

The positivity of the win over Haiti was quickly extinguished by a defeat to Morocco. Scotland still had hopes of qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages via the best third-place trap door. However, a damaging 3-0 defeat to Brazil leaves them on the edge of elimination.

World Cup status: Hanging on by a thread.

Florian Wirtz has two assists in the World Cup so far for Germany. But it was a disappointing end to their Group Stages,despite topping the group as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Ecuador. Social media is suggesting some worries regarding the playmaker as he has struggled to set the tournament alight. Germany, in truth, have been so poor defensively, it is little surprise their group phase ended with a blemish. They were fortunate to beat Ivory Coast with two goals from substitute Deniz Undav completing an unlikely comeback over the African side, who led after great work from Liverpool target Yan Diomande.

Next match - Paraguay (subject to change) June 29.

Alisson Becker haunted Andy Robertson’s Scotland in their final group game as the Brazilian shot-stopper made a number of crucial saves. Brazil had already qualified and were looking to add gloss to their position in Group C, they did just that with a 3-0 win thanks to Vinicius Jr’s double. Alisson weathered the Tartan Army onslaught late on as Steve Clarke’s side tried to limit the damage on goal difference but in failing to do so, their place in the North American competition is precarious.

Next match - Japan - June 29.

Sweden qualified for the knockout stages thanks to their 1-1 draw with Japan, who finished second in Group F. It has been a topsy-turvy three matches for Graham Potter’s side as the positivity after their 5-1 win over Tunisia vanished when Virgil van Dijk’s Holland beat them by the same score. Isak was a threat in that game and provided an assist for their consolation goal but a lax touch sparked a counter-attack that resulted in a Holland goal

Next match - France (subject to change) June 30.

Holland steamrolled into the World Cup knockouts after netting eight goals in two matches. Cody Gakpo stole the headlines against Sweden as he netted a double in their 5-1 win while Virgil van Dijk provided an assist in their 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Next match - Morocco - June 30

Victor Munoz signed for Liverpool, suffered an injury setback and then provided an injury boost for Spain. Head coach Luis de la Fuerte has touted the new Reds wing-wizard as a player who could have a significant impact in the World Cup for La Roja this summer. Liverpool fans are seated.

Next match - Austria (subject to change) July 2

Alexis Mac Allister received praise for his performances for Argentina at the World Cup. The midfielder has been deployed in a deeper role in the holders’ engine room and has seemingly unlocked a new string of positivity for him. After the poor season that he had at Anfield, it could be food for thought for Andoni Iraola and whether he should swap Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister with the Dutchman playing further up.

Next match - Jordan - June 28.

• Sun, Aug 23 (16:30) – Newcastle United vs Liverpool

• Sat, Aug 29 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

• Sat, Sep 05 (15:00) – Ipswich Town vs Liverpool

• Sat, Sep 12 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Fulham

• Sat, Sep 19 (15:00) – Bournemouth vs Liverpool

• Sat, Oct 10 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Manchester City

• Sat, Oct 17 (15:00) – Brentford vs Liverpool

• Sat, Oct 24 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Brighton and Hove Albion

• Sat, Oct 31 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Arsenal

• Sat, Nov 07 (15:00) – Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

• Sat, Nov 21 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Manchester United

• Sat, Nov 28 (15:00) – Everton vs Liverpool

• Wed, Dec 02 (20:00) – Liverpool vs Sunderland

• Sat, Dec 05 (15:00) – Chelsea vs Liverpool

• Sat, Dec 12 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Leeds United

• Sat, Dec 19 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

• Sat, Dec 26 (15:00) – Hull City vs Liverpool

• Wed, Dec 30 (20:00) – Aston Villa vs Liverpool

• Sat, Jan 02 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Coventry City

• Wed, Jan 06 (20:00) – Sunderland vs Liverpool

• Sat, Jan 16 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

• Sat, Jan 23 (15:00) – Manchester United vs Liverpool

• Sat, Jan 30 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Everton

• Sat, Feb 06 (15:00) – Arsenal vs Liverpool

• Wed, Feb 10 (20:00) – Coventry City vs Liverpool

• Sat, Feb 20 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Hull City

• Sat, Feb 27 (15:00) – Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool

• Wed, Mar 03 (20:00) – Liverpool vs Aston Villa

• Sat, Mar 13 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Ipswich Town

• Sat, Mar 20 (15:00) – Fulham vs Liverpool

• Sat, Apr 10 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Newcastle United

• Sat, Apr 17 (15:00) – Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

• Sat, Apr 24 (15:00) – Leeds United vs Liverpool

• Sat, May 01 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Chelsea

• Sat, May 08 (15:00) – Manchester City vs Liverpool

• Sat, May 15 (15:00) – Liverpool vs Brentford

• Sun, May 23 (15:00) – Brighton and Hove Albion vs Liverpool

• Sun, May 30 (16:00) – Liverpool vs Bournemouth

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Edition number: 50

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