Liverpool transfer roundup: Kylian Mbappe wants move as Salah 'keen on Barcelona'

Liverpool started their Premier League title defence with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Leeds United on Saturday evening.

Mohamed Salah netted a hat-trick, Leeds pulled themselves back level on three different occasions, and Jurgen Klopp’s side only just hung on to claim victory.

Liverpool ’s difficulties against Leeds highlighted their lack of spending, which has been criticised this summer. Only Kostas Tsimikas, a reserve left-back, has been brought in, after no first-team signings were made last summer.

There have been, however, ample links with some of the brightest stars in European football, most notably Thiago from Bayern Munich.

Here is the latest transfer news involving the Reds.

Hoeness angry with Thiago 'blackmail'

The Thiago transfer saga continues. With less than a year remaining on his contract at Bayern, the Spanish international has been strongly linked with a move to Merseyside.

It was expected he would make a switch earlier this summer, but little movement has come in recent weeks, with the transfer seemingly stalling.

Thiago is said to want to leave Bayern, either this summer or when his contract expires, and both Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly interested.

Bayern Munich, however, feel aggrieved with how the situation has been handled. And Bayern chief Uli Hoeness claim Liverpool and United are attempting to “blackmail” the German giants.

“We offered him a great four-year contract but in the last minute, he changed his mind and told us he wants a new challenge,” Hoeness told Sport1 via Sports Mole.

“He probably has an agreement with Liverpool or Manchester United, or with both. Both clubs have not come to us with an offer.

“They are bluffing and want to blackmail us by waiting until the last week and then make a cheap offer. Bayern must decide whether they want to play this game or stand their ground and keep Thiago.”

Salah linked with Barcelona

After his hat-trick performance on Saturday, Salah has been linked with a move to Barcelona, who are looking to refresh their ageing squad.

According to Ajax's record appearance-maker Sjaak Swart, Salah is on Ronald Koeman’s radar, and the Egyptian is interested in a potential Barcelona switch.

“I know Koeman wants him – and I know Salah would like to go,” he told voetbalzone.nl via Sports Mole.

Swart was asked from whom he gathered this information, but he would not reveal his source.

“I can't. I am not going into any more details, but just believe me that I know,” he said.

Mbappe considering Premier League move

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Liverpool got their title defence off to a shaky start as they edged out a seven-goal thriller against Leeds.

The Reds remain keen on Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara, but Georginio Wijnaldum continues to be linked with Barcelona.

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Kylian Mbappe has informed Paris Saint-Germain that he would like to leave the club in 2021, with a move to the Premier League or La Liga his desired landing spot, per the Times.

Mbappe signed for PSG in 2018 for a world-record fee for a teenager, and the second-highest ever behind team-mate Neymar.

Liverpool have been mooted as a potential destination for Mbappe in the future and were tentatively linked with the French World Cup winner earlier this year.

Mbappe has been complimentary of Jurgen Klopp’s project, too.

“What Liverpool do in this moment is amazing,” he said in January. “They’re like a machine, they’ve found a rhythm and are like ‘we play again, we play again’.

“When you watch you think everything’s easy, but that’s not easy. The guys are focused, they play games every three days and they win, they win, they win.

“Performances like they have been having don’t just happen. To be as ruthless as they have been would come from lots of hard work in training and from having a very good manager.”