Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Federico Marchetti, Domenico Berardi Rumours

Liverpool will reportedly turn to Serie A to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window, as the latest rumours link the Reds with moves for Lazio Roma goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi.

According to David Amoyal, a translator for Gianluca Di Marzio, Marchetti is one of two goalkeepers Liverpool are targeting as competition for current starter Simon Mignolet. The Reds have also been linked with AC Milan's Diego Lopez, who has lost his starting position to teenage superstar Gianluigi Donnarumma.

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Marchetti presents an interesting target due to his contract, which is set to expire in June. The 32-year-old has long been one of the top keepers in Italy but may not be known quite as well outside of Serie A due to a lack of exposure.

Known for his excellent reflexes and strong voice on the pitch, Marchetti has been with Lazio since 2011. He looked like a rising star in 2012 and 2013 and an outside favourite to replace Gianluigi Buffon as Italy's starter, but he has since been passed by a number of younger options, including Genoa's Mattia Perin.

Here's a look at what he brings to the table:

Unlike Lopez, who once displaced Iker Casillas in the Real Madrid starting XI and projects as an automatic starter at Anfield, Marchetti would provide competition for Mignolet, rather than be an immediate upgrade.

But he should be far cheaper than Lopez, who Milan will be keen to keep at the San Siro. Donnarumma is still just 16 years old, and he's bound to have his struggles at some point in the near future.

Liverpool fans will likely be hoping for a younger starter with a higher ceiling, but those kind of star goalkeepers are difficult to obtain in the January window. Marchetti should be obtainable at a reasonable cost, and at the very least, he will give manager Jurgen Klopp options.

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Elsewhere, Calciomercato.com's Fabrizio Romano (translated by Edo Dalmonte) claims Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has contacted Sassuolo regarding the availability of star forward Berardi, who is also a reported target of the Reds.

The prolific 21-year-old seems destined to end up with Juventus, who have a clause to buy him at the end of the season, but that isn't stopping the Premier League heavyweights from showing their financial muscle.

To stop Juventus from activating their clause, Spurs or Liverpool would have to move in January, and the player's agent, Simone Seghedoni, has already ruled out a midseason move. Speaking to Calciomercato.com (h/t Football Italia), he said:

"

Juventus have a verbal agreement with Sassuolo for June.

That’s still a long way away though, and we’re not thinking about it at the moment. Domenico will not go to Juventus in January, I can categorically rule out leaving in the next transfer window.

He will not move until June, in line with a program devised along with the club. Domenico is only thinking about continuing his growth with Sassuolo and Coach [Eusebio] Di Francesco.

"

The clause doesn't guarantee Berardi's move to Juventus, however. The left-footed winger would have to agree to a move himself, and so far, he has chosen to stay with Sassuolo at every turn.

As shared by Squawka Dave, he truly is a special talent:

Sassuolo and Juventus have a fantastic relationship, evidenced by the transfers of Berardi and Simone Zaza in recent years, but thanks to the new TV deal, Premier League clubs like Tottenham and Liverpool have the financial might to present the Neroverdi with the kind of offer they can't refuse.

The Bianconeri remain the favourites to land Berardi―by some margin―but that shouldn't stop the Reds from at least playing their hand. The club has nothing to lose in these negotiations, and Berardi's remarkable talent certainly warrants the attention.

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