Liverpool Transfer News: Cristian Tello, Timo Horn, Samuel Bastien, Top Rumours

Liverpool are ready to open talks with Barcelona's Cristian Tello in a move that could see his loan deal with Porto cut short.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t George Bellshaw of Metro), the attacker has emerged as one of manager Jurgen Klopp's main targets and is considered to become an "important player" for the Reds if he moves to Anfield. 

Klopp is described as "desperate" to land the 24-year-old, per Bellshaw, as he looks to welcome fresh blood into his squad. The player suits the style of football the German wants to play, injecting pace and trickery into the attack. 

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Tello is more than halfway through a two-year loan spell at Porto and is open to leaving the Blaugrana, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).

Porto have an option to buy the player at the end of his loan, and his agent Josep Maria Orobitg has previously talked up a permanent move to Portugal, per O Jogo (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts):

"

Tello and I have already told Barcelona that he does not want to return to Camp Nou. 

And Barcelona do not want to have any players who would rather be elsewhere. His future is not at Barcelona.

Tello would like to stay at Porto. He really wants to stay put and we are not just saying this to give him a good image. He loves Porto and has always been treated very well. 

It all depends on what Porto want. We have not heard anything yet. If Porto don't want him to stay, he will move on. There is plenty of interest from other countries. His priority is to stay at Porto, though.

"

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher recent surmised his former team need to find players with pace who can operate in the wide areas, varying the side's predictability, per Sky Sports (h/t the Irish Independent):

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There is not enough being created. The football has not been quick and fast, it's been slow and predictable, they are not creating chances.

There are no wide players in the squad, there is an abundance of No. 10s. I don't know how the transfer committee thought they would fit them in.

That is Jurgen Klopp's problem now. Maybe he will address that in January but there are four centre forwards and three or four No 10s and no wide players. There are some problems with that squad in terms of the quality and the balance.

"

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Klopp is also looking to add weight to his squad in defensive positions and has targeted a return to Germany to capture young goalkeeper Timo Horn.

The Sun (h/t Alex Harris of the Daily Star) said Cologne's 22-year-old could be brought to Anfield to provide competition in the squad, and Klopp can buy the player for as little as £6.5 million in January due to a release clause in his current deal. 

The stopper has been first-choice at his club since he was 18 and is one of the country's brightest talents. 

Fichajes (h/t Luke Gardener of the Daily Star) also said Klopp could move for another goalkeeper—Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen—but his £56.8 million buyout clause makes him a difficult purchase to execute. 

Villa To Steal Teenager

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Liverpool could be about to miss out on a recent target after the news Anderlecht's Samuel Bastien is linked with a move to Aston Villa.

According to Italian website IrpiniaNews.it (h/t Bellshaw of Metro), the Villa Park club have registered an interest in the talented midfielder, who is on loan at Italian Serie B side Unione Sportiva Avellino 1912.

The Reds "attempted" to sign the player in the summer, per Bellshaw, and will have to move fast if they wish to reignite their interest. 

Tello would be an interesting addition to Liverpool's squad, but it is difficult to imagine him becoming a major player in the Premier League.

The Spaniard would offer Klopp good balance on the left wing, but it is debatable whether he has the quality to help the team into the top four Champions League qualifying positions in the domestic table.

He would be an affordable January addition for Liverpool, but his levels of creativity might be found wanting in English football.