Liverpool think that they know whether or not Youssoufa Moukoko will move to Anfield in the January transfer window.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which has reported of a potential problem that Liverpool could face in signing Moukoko because of Jude Bellingham.
So, what has been reported about Liverpool and Youssoufa Moukoko? Let’s take a look.
What’s the story?
Well, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund.
Newcastle United are also interested in Moukoko, and, like Premier League rivals Liverpool, the Magpies have been looking at him over the past year and have compiled scouting reports on him.
However, according to TEAMtalk, neither Liverpool nor Newcastle think that they will be able to sign the 19-year-old Germany international striker in January.
The report has noted that both the Reds and the Magpies have “more pressing issues to deal with in the market”, but they remain interested in Moukoko.
TEAMtalk has added that Chelsea are interested in the Dortmund teenager, who is confident that he can be a success in the Premier League.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
The striker has previously been on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal have been linked with him before as well.
Liverpool face Real Madrid competition for Youssoufa Moukoko
However, by not acting in the January transfer window, Liverpool are risking losing Youssoufa Moukoko to Real Madrid.
TEAMtalk has noted that Spanish and European giants Real Madrid are interested in the 19-year-old and have an eye on him for the long term.
And, perhaps worryingly for Liverpool, the report has claimed that Madrid and England international midfielder Jude Bellingham is “good friends” with Moukoko.
Bellingham played with Moukoko at Dortmund before moving to Madrid in the summer of 2023. So, the Englishman could convince the attacker to join Madrid.
Moukoko is struggling for playing time at Dortmund at the moment. The teenager has made just seven substitute appearances in the Bundesliga and only two substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League this season.
What if Madrid decide to make a loan bid for Moukoko? After all, Los Blancos could do with a centre-forward for the second half of the season.
If the German did well for Madrid, then the Spanish giants could decide to make his loan deal permanent. And Liverpool would miss out on him.
Meanwhile, journalist Ben Jacobs has said that Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has impressed the bosses of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Alonso, who played for both Liverpool and Madrid, is working wonders at Bayer.
Bayer are at the top of the Bundesliga table with 31 points from 11 matches, two points clear of defending champions Bayern Munich.
Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “My understanding is that Alonso is obviously focused on Bayer Leverkusen and not getting ahead of himself, they’re top of the Bundesliga at the time of recording.
“He’s done absolutely phenomenally at that football club, so everyone else is talking about Alonso’s future, but Alonso himself is only focused at the moment on Leverkusen and rightly so, because to get a top manager job, you don’t put yourself in the shop window after 11 league games, you put yourself in the shop window at the end of a season or seasons when you’ve won silverware.
“But there’s no doubt that Alonso is turning heads at the moment and that includes with two of his former clubs, Liverpool, and Real Madrid. I think less so Bayern Munich at this stage, because Thomas Tuchel is starting to settle, but obviously, if a vacancy ever opens there, then we know that Alonso will be linked with it as well. But the Liverpool possibility is maybe the most interesting.”