Liverpool Transfer News: Jerome Sinclair Fee Reported, Martin Caceres Rumours

Liverpool reportedly want £3 million for 19-year-old striker Jerome Sinclair, who is said to be a target for Premier League clubs Watford and Bournemouth. The Anfield side are also facing disappointment over their mooted pursuit of versatile Juventus defender Martin Caceres.

There is interest in precocious young attacker Sinclair, and the Reds are determined to take advantage of it, according to the Daily Mirror:

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Watford and Bournemouth have both made enquiries for the 19-year-old who is out of contract at the end of the season. Watford are keen to get it done in January.

But Liverpool are playing hardball even though contract talks have stalled and Sinclair was left on the bench for the FA Cup replay with Exeter [City] on Wednesday night.

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The same reports indicates how the hefty fee will be a tough sell for the interested parties, citing Charlie Austin's recent £4 million move to Southampton. Former Queens Park Rangers star Austin is a more proven striker at first-team level.

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Liverpool's "hardball" stance could cost the club millions, per the Mirror: "It means Sinclair could join a foreign club in the summer and go for around £200,000 in compensation. Espanyol and Groningen have both made enquiries."

Trying to get Sinclair to sign a new contract has proved an arduous task for the Reds. In mid-December, James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo stated how the club were wary of Sinclair's agent, Aidy Ward. He represents Raheem Sterling, who left Anfield under a cloud when he completed a move to Manchester City last summer.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has already bemoaned how often young players choose high wages over the right education, referencing Sinclair's case, per BBC Sport.

B/R's Dean Jones believes Sinclair will move but feels the youngster should be more patient at Anfield:

Letting Sinclair become a free agent would mean a tribunal setting a fee if the player joins another Premier League side. It would also mean saying goodbye to a very promising youngster before he's contributed anything to the club that helped develop him.

Juventus Want to Keep Caceres

Liverpool won't be able to add Martin Caceres to their squad this January. Not if Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri has his way.

The Turin-based club value the cover Caceres provides, according to Calciomercato.com: "Caceres has been chased by Liverpool and Fenerbache, but also Milan and Roma have been linked with welcoming his services, but Massimiliano Allegri wants to keep the 28-year-old at the stadium until the end of his contract."

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

Apparently, cashing in on Caceres in the winter transfer window would still leave Juve short of the funds needed for a new defender. So retaining the Uruguayan, who can play both full-back and central defender, makes sense.

But it's sure to disappoint Liverpool. The Reds have been keen on Caceres for a while, per Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw).

Caceres has the pace and flexibility Klopp's squad currently lacks at the back. The German has been trying to get by with 34-year-old Kolo Toure at centre-back in recent matches, and Liverpool have conceded four times in their last two league games against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Injuries and a lack of talent have blighted the Reds' defence this season, but it seems Klopp's search for upgrades will have to continue.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's search for the next young player ready and able to become a first-team star will go on as Sinclair nears the exit.