Liverpool FC news recap: NEW contract, Trump to help FSG deal, Gravenberch THRIVING

New contract talks

Rumours are circulating about Liverpool’s significant interest in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who sporting director Richard Hughes signed during his time at the club.

Football Insider are reporting, however, that Liverpool are looking at renewing Andy Robertson’s contract.

Despite the Scottish captain’s contract being up at the end of next season, the report states that the Reds are planning to open contract talks with him this coming summer. This comes largely from wanting to avoid another tricky situation as seen with the ongoing Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold contract fiasco.

Trump to help out FSG?

Fenway Sports Group own a chunk of the PGA, having led a group that pumped in $3bn of investment earlier this year.

Now John Henry is in the group negotiating with the PiF. He’s seen the standstill first hand – but recent events in the USA could fix things.

Golfer Rory McIlroy believes Donald Trump is here to rescue proceedings. He’s pointed out a ‘great relationship’ between Trump and the Saudis, feeling that it should help things get over the line.

Ryan Gravenberch is thriving

It has been well established that the rise in Ryan Gravenberch’s performances has been essential to Liverpool playing the way they are.

His abilities in the Premier League have been covered, but with 50% of Champions League group stage games played, it is clear this is translating to his performances in Europe too.

Notably, Gravenberch leads the entire Champions League for possession won, recovering the ball 30 times in the opening four games.

Gravenberch is joined on this number by Bologna’s Dan Ndoye. The majority of those with 20+ recoveries are, understandably, defenders. And out of all established, big-name defensive midfielders in the competition, only Joshua Kimmich comes close with 27.

Liverpool prospect to choose USA

The newest development in the exciting youth cycle is that of under-16s right-back Keehan Barret-Underwood, who has been called up to the USA Under-17s training squad for the first time for this upcoming week.

Barret-Underwood has previously represented England’s Under-16s side for a pair of friendlies against Italy in August 2023. The game in which Barret-Underwood played 80 minutes finished 1-1, whilst Italy ran out 3-1 winners when the Liverpool man was relegated to a back-up role.

Liverpool’s growing problem

One of the biggest issues that could fall on Hughes’ lap next summer is the club’s lack of homegrown players.

Every Premier League club can name a 25-men squad with eight homegrown players in the team.

This season, Liverpool have only selected seven homegrown players.

This was as follows: Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Tyler Morton and Tom Hill.

But if you notice many of the players on that list have uncertain futures at the club.