Liverpool have no intention of pursuing a summer transfer move for Djed Spence, despite their recent injury woes.
Spence, who shone for England at the World Cup, faces an uncertain Tottenham future as Roberto De Zerbi continues to overhaul his squad. Despite his brilliant performances for the Three Lions this summer, he is likely to find himself behind new signing Andy Robertson on the left and World Cup winner Pedro Porro on the right.
Spurs are therefore open to offers on the 25-year-old, who they value at around £35million. Italian giants Inter and AC Milan were both linked earlier in the summer, before Anfield was touted as a possible destination.
Iraola's defensive injury crisis
Andoni Iraola has seen just two players arrive since he succeeded Arne Slot, with Jeremy Jacquet joining the squad and Spanish winger Victor Munoz. He has also seen his first pre-season severely hampered by a number of his defenders being unable to participate through the summer.
Virgil van Dijk has been easing back to fitness after his exploits with the Netherlands, Joe Gomez was injured in the first game of pre-season, while Jacquet is still yet to feature after suffering a shoulder injury for Rennes. Conor Bradley is also still recovering from a serious knee injury, leaving fans seriously concerned ahead of the season opener in just over a fortnight.
A move for the versatile Spence, who is equally adept on the left and right, appeared to tick a lot of boxes. But the ECHO understands that he is not under consideration and furthermore, the Reds have 'absolutely no intention' of making a move for him during the window.
Focus on attacking reinforcements
Despite their mounting injury worries, it is suggested that Liverpool are not currently assessing the market for any defensive reinforcements. Instead, the Reds are prioritising a move for an attacking player as they look to fill the vast void left after Mohamed Salah's departure.
Bradley Barcola has been the big name linked for most of the summer, but Paris Saint-Germain are holding out for more than £100m for the France international. In recent days, Barcola's PSG team-mate Ibrahim Mbaye has emerged as an alternative to Barcola. The teenage winger could be available for a much lower fee and perhaps more importantly could be allowed to leave the European champions.
Liverpool bosses are continuing to leave their options open in the forward department, with a host of names still under consideration. Brighton's Yankiba Minteh, Said El Mala of Koln and Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo are other attackers understood to have been looked at by Anfield bosses.
The Reds have two more friendlies, firstly against Monaco on Sunday and then Como the weekend after, before they kick off their Premier League campaign against Newcastle on August 23.
