Icon urges Edwards to complete blockbuster £100m deal but Klopp ally tells Reds star to leave

Liverpool legend John Barnes has told the Reds to swoop on Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon in a big-money deal, while a former Jurgen Klopp manager is hoping one of his former players will leave.

Liverpool and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in Gordon amid his brilliant form for Newcastle and his rise to the international stage with England. Liverpool were tipped to enter talks with Newcastle while the left winger was away on international duty at Euro 2024.

It has been claimed that Gordon has started talking to some of his England teammates about how he would love to move to Anfield, having supported Liverpool as a child.

The transfer soon hit a snag, as Liverpool were unlikely to pay the huge £80-100 million fee required to complete a deal with Newcastle.

DON’T MISS – Liverpool goalkeeper targets: All options tipped to become Alisson’s new vice-chairman in 2024

However, Barnes has praised Gordon and suggested Liverpool boss Michael Edwards should press ahead with his bid to sign the 23-year-old.

“We like local players and he’s not only English but he’s also a Scouser,” Barnes said. “He’s got energy and a lot of pace, he’s very dynamic and he’s a player that even Jurgen Klopp would have liked.

“If Arne Slot is looking at Gordon as an option, he would be a great fit for Liverpool. The interest in Gordon is leading me to believe that Liverpool will be a very intense, motivated and high-pressing team.”

Liverpool’s signing of Gordon would likely see one of Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo depart. Diaz is the more likely of the two to leave, as he has been linked with European heavyweights such as Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in recent months.

Liverpool latest news: Gordon in, Kelleher out?

It is worth noting that sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that Newcastle are preparing a lucrative contract proposal for Gordon to keep Liverpool at bay.

While Gordon is on Liverpool’s radar, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is looking to leave Merseyside to become a regular starter at a new club.

During his time in charge of Liverpool, Klopp labelled Kelleher as “world class” as he is too good to be left just warming the bench.

The 25-year-old is a target for a number of clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Celtic.

Now Klopp’s former goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has become the latest observer to tell Kelleher he needs to move in the summer.

“I hope he gets a change because he deserves to be number one,” the coach said.

“You know if you have two goalkeepers like that, you have probably the best goalkeeping team Liverpool have probably ever had, in a number one and number two position at the same time – it’s crazy.”

Kelleher’s new Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has already told him to join a new club.

And earlier this week, Kelleher’s former Liverpool team-mate Adrian gave his verdict on the situation.

“I have a very good relationship with Caoimh, we had a lot of conversations. The boss (Klopp) saw he was ready and I had to be there to support him. He showed last season that he could be Liverpool’s No. 1,” said Adrian.

“It’s also clear that when Alisson is there he will start most of the games. Caoimh is at an age where you want to play every weekend. He also wants to be Ireland’s No.1, which will happen if he is playing regularly.

“I know he wants to get more minutes. I hope he makes the right decision for himself.”

FIND OUT MORE: What a stunning new Liverpool will look like in 2024/25 if Arne Slot gets all his transfer targets