Report: Liverpool ‘in talks’ over late move for Chelsea star

Report: Liverpool ‘in talks’ over late move for Chelsea star Liverpool in Pedro Neto Talks as Cody Gakpo Exit Looms Ahead of Deadline Day Liverpool are weighing up a significant late-window move for Pedro Neto, with Football Transfers reporting that contact has already been made with the winger’s camp as the club plan for the possible departure of Cody Gakpo. The situation appears to be moving on parallel tracks. On one side, “Manchester City are in negotiations over a late deal to bring Gakpo to the Etihad Stadium”, while on the other, Liverpool are exploring attacking alternatives. The report adds that the Reds “are prepared to sanction a sale before the end of Deadline Day on 1 September”, although that stance comes with an important condition. That condition is straightforward. Liverpool “will only permit a sale if they are able to land another new attacker in addition to Bradley Barcola.” It is a detail that offers a clear insight into the club’s thinking. This is not framed as a simple one-in, one-out move. It points to a wider effort to reshape the forward line before the window shuts. Pedro Neto Emerges in Liverpool Transfer Plans Barcola is described as the priority, and the report states that the Paris Saint-Germain attacker “is on the verge of joining the Reds for a fee worth up to €145 million, having undergone a medical”. Alongside that pursuit, “FootballTransfers understands that Neto is high on Liverpool’s list of possible replacements for Gakpo.” Neto’s position at Chelsea adds intrigue. The 26-year-old remains under contract until 2031, but “the west London giants are open to negotiating a possible sale” after a busy summer of recruitment. There is encouragement for any interested club in another key line, “We understand that Neto would be open to leaving Stamford Bridge if he receives an attractive proposal and Liverpool officials have contacted his agent to gauge the possibility of a deal amid their pursuit of a Gakpo replacement.” That said, a deal would be expensive. “Chelsea will only consider a sale if they receive an offer of at least €88 million (£75m)” and that is a serious figure for a player whose Estimated Transfer Value is listed at €51.7m. Liverpool would need to decide whether Neto’s Premier League experience, pace and versatility justify that level of spending. Gakpo Exit Could Trigger Two-Forward Finish The wider context matters. Liverpool are keen to finish the window strongly, and the report says the club are “eager to sign two new forwards before the end of Deadline Day if Gakpo departs.” Yankuba Minteh is also mentioned among the names linked, which suggests recruitment staff are surveying multiple profiles rather than locking into one type of wide attacker. Photo: IMAGO Squad depth may be part of the calculation. The report notes that Victor Munoz is the only senior attacking arrival so far this summer, and he joins a group including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa, Gakpo and the injured Hugo Ekitike. If Gakpo leaves, reinforcements would feel necessary rather than optional. Our View From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report is fascinating because it hints at an aggressive end to the transfer window. If Gakpo truly wants the move and the club are open to it, then replacing him properly becomes the whole conversation. Neto is a high-level talent, proven in England, capable of playing across the front line and clearly someone Liverpool believe could raise the attack. The concern is the fee. £75m is a huge number, especially for a player who has had periods where availability and consistency have been questioned. Supporters will rightly wonder whether that money could stretch further elsewhere, especially if Barcola is already arriving for such a major outlay. Even so, top-end attackers cost top-end money, and waiting for bargains in the final days of the window rarely works when elite clubs are involved. There is also a bigger strategic point here. If Liverpool are looking to add Barcola and Neto in the same window, that says a lot about the direction of the squad under Andoni Iraola. More pace, more directness, more one-v-one threat, and more depth for a season that will demand constant rotation. For fans, the prospect is exciting. If the club can turn a possible Gakpo departure into a refreshed, sharper forward line, the anxiety of Deadline Day could quickly become real optimism.