Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mateo Kovacic and Samuel Umtiti Rumours

Liverpool have reportedly agreed to terms with Croatia and Internazionale midfielder Mateo Kovacic ahead of a summer transfer.

According to Croatian newspaper Vecernji List (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express), the 21-year-old has already settled on personal terms, but a fee has yet to be agreed upon between the two clubs. It’s noted that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will “pay whatever it takes” to bring the midfield talent to Merseyside and the Serie A side are hoping for £20 million.

Here’s a look at the kind of quality Kovacic could add to the Liverpool midfield:

The playmaker definitely fits the blueprint Rodgers adheres to when signing players. He’s undeniably talented, has a malleable set of attributes and would be afforded the opportunity to grow as a footballer at Anfield.

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Nooruddean Choudry of Joe.co.uk, a Manchester United supporter, doesn’t want his team’s rivals landing the midfield star:

The chance to play for a club like Liverpool is an opportunity Kovacic would surely relish. While Inter do boast massive prestige, the team has fallen on tough times as of late, and potential forays into the Champions League seem a long way off.

Admittedly the same could also be said of Liverpool. Nonetheless, the club have still been able to attract talent like James Milner to Anfield. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe took a look at where he’s likely to fit in:

Players like Kovacic would help enrich players like Milner and their industrious instincts. But even though he’s a superb talent, the Croatian isn’t really the kind of player Liverpool are in desperate need of.

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Indeed, Rodgers has other areas of the squad which need bolstering; with players like Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic in situ, the Reds already have a surfeit of intricate midfield talents.

If Rodgers can add to his defensive options, bring in another striker and add some fortitude to the heart of this Reds team, then Kovacic would be the gloss on the transfer window for Liverpool. But making him a priority target at the expense of those facets would be a little naive on the part of the Anfield chief.

Reds Will Battle for Samuel Umtiti

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According to Clive Hetherington of Daily Star Sunday, Liverpool will battle it out with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid in an attempt to lure Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti to Merseyside.

The piece notes the interest of a host of illustrious clubs, and given Umtiti’s displays in Ligue 1 this season, it’s easy to see why. The young defender is not only dynamic, tenacious and strong in the air, but he’s an adaptable talent too, capable of playing in the heart of a defence or in the left full-back berth.

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As noted by Robin Bairner of Goal.com earlier this season, the player has been aware of interest from Europe’s elite for a while now:

If Liverpool can convince Umtiti to further his football career at Anfield, it’d be a major coup. Rodgers still has major issues to address at the back, and while the Frenchman is nowhere near the finished article yet, he’d add plenty of qualities that are currently in short supply at Anfield.

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As noted by Hetherington, there are also big concerns over the long-term futures of a scattering of Liverpool defenders, including the club's most consistent performer at the back, Martin Skrtel.

John Ritchie of This Is Anfield summed up Liverpool’s predicament in defensive areas:

While the lack of Champions League football could hinder the Reds’ pursuit of the player, the chance of playing regular football, something a lot of the aforementioned clubs couldn't provide for certain, would surely be enticing for the youngster.

However, it’d be no surprise to see Umtiti stick around at Lyon for a while yet. The Ligue 1 side have an effervescent core of bright young talent and will be playing in European football’s top competition next season, and Umtiti has been central to their rise. Another year with Lyon, remaining a key figure and sampling the Champions League would be no hindrance to his progression at all.