Juventus want to finalise talks in deal for Liverpool defender

Liverpool’s current focus is on getting players in.

The signing of Bradley Barcola may well be followed up by a couple more wingers. Barcola, 23, is joining from Paris Saint-Germain for £120m after a breakthrough in talks.

And Yankuba Minteh as well as Ismaila Sarr could both become Liverpool players before the transfer deadline on Tuesday.

Liverpool outgoings now inevitable

But in the background are departures and Richard Hughes cannot afford to take his eye off the ball.

That is particularly true in the case of players whose contracts expire in 2027 - with the 2024/25 Premier League champions risking the loss of several stars on free transfers next year.

Granted, the likes of Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are expected to leave when their terms expire. But for the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas there remains an opportunity to cash in.

Juventus want Kostas Tsimikas

Bajcetic is reported to be close to Celta Vigo while Elliott has got his admirers in Italy.

In the case of Tsimikas it was initially expected that the 30-year-old would fulfil a backup role for Milos Kerkez this season. But that could all change as Juventus come forward with interest in the left-back in the closing stages of the transfer window.

That’s according to a report in Tutto Juve - citing Corriere dello Sport - which claims that talks will be wrapped up for the Greece international before the window closes.

Richard Hughes left with a decision to make over Tsimikas

Juve reportedly see Tsimikas as the ideal solution to replace Andrea Cambiaso - who is attracting transfer interest from Inter Milan and Barcelona.

The Bianconeri view Tsimikas as being worth less than £4m - hoping to strike an opportunistic deal for the defender. Last season Tsimikas spent the campaign on loan at Roma but the capital side declined to take up a permanent option on that deal.

Instead he returned to Anfield quite unsure of his future but has already featured under Andoni Iraola as a deputy to Kerkez.

Liverpool have got other left-backs - most notably Luke Chambers - wh could do a job if they decide to dispense with Tsimikas.