Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mauro Icardi, Gregoire Defrel Rumours

Inter Milan striker and reported Liverpool summer transfer target Mauro Icardi has said he never seriously thought about leaving the Nerazzurri, while Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has reportedly ordered scouts to keep an eye on Sassuolo's Gregoire Defrel.

Icardi was linked with both Arsenal and Liverpool during the summer transfer window, and his wife and agent Wanda Icardi told Corriere della Sera (h/t London Evening Standard's James Benge) that Arsenal and other clubs made contact to discuss a potential move.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

The Argentinian striker now claims a departure was never an option, per the Daily Mirror: “The club invested heavily in the summer, bringing in quality players and this is an advantage for me. I want to win with this shirt. I want to stay here. I am comfortable in the city and I never thought about leaving this team.”

Per David Amoyal of Gianlucadimarzio.com (via GianMarco Pascarella), there's even talk of a contract extension:

The 23-year-old has been with Inter since 2013 and has established himself as one of the top strikers in Serie A, routinely leading the Nerazzurri in scoring. He bagged the equaliser in the rivalry match with Juventus on Sunday, playing a key part in his team's eventual 2-1 win.

As shared by Squawka Football, he's been doing so all season:

Icardi has been by far Inter's most talented attacking player for some time, and the summer acquisition of Gabriel Barbosa from Santos has opened the door for a potential 1-2 punch that could be a smash hit in Italy.

The rebuilding Nerazzurri were always expected to do whatever it takes to keep hold of their star man, despite persistent rumours linking him with a Premier League move.

Here's a look at some of his highlights, showing why teams were reportedly so interested:

Icardi is a predator in and around the box, always doing an excellent job of putting himself in the perfect position. He's a tough, physical player who more than holds his own in duels, but he's also deceptively fast in open space.

As a pure finisher, he's only matched by Juventus' Gonzalo Higuain in Italy, and Icardi is also one of the best headers of the ball in Serie A. He's been stuck on an underachieving Inter squad for the last few years, but even in those circumstances, his numbers have been impressive.

Inter's new project should only boost his profile, as his scoring numbers are expected to increase with better players around him. That could make it more difficult for the Italians to keep hold of him, but it will likewise increase his price, which could be bad news for the Reds.

Klopp has always done his finest work with lesser-known talents, so it should come as no surprise Sassuolo's Defrel has reportedly caught his eye. Per the Sun's Jake Lambourne, he has already sent scouts to watch the in-form Frenchman.

Elisabetta Baracchi/Associated Press

Defrel has scored five goals in his last six matches, including two in UEFA Europa League qualifiers and a sweet strike in the team's shock win over Athletic Bilbao. The 25-year-old has often been overshadowed by the supremely talented Domenico Berardi at Sassuolo, but he's pushed himself into the spotlight of late.

His road to the top of Italian football has been a long one: He spent time with Parma, Foggia and Cesena before moving to the Neroverdi, and he told Il Resto del Carlino (h/t Football Italia) he nearly quit the sport at one point:

"

I was about to say goodbye to football at a very young age, but Cesena gave me back my desire to play football.

I had just come back from a year at Foggia which didn’t go well. I was morally destroyed, I even thought about giving up.

I gave to Cesena with Nicola Campedelli, then Pierpaolo Bisoli took over as coach and gave me the keys to the attack.

"

Defrel is known for his quick feet and superb decision making in the attacking third, making him a fine fit for Sassuolo's fluent system that relies heavily on pace. Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Berardi may be Sassuolo's big star, but the youngster is still expected to end up at Juventus once he's ready to make the leap to a major club. Defrel is a great player in his own right, and he has played a big role in the Italian's hot start to the season and great scoring numbers.

Whether he's good enough for a club like Liverpool is debatable, but Klopp has a superb track record when it comes to unearthing talent―if he believes in the Frenchman, there's little reason to doubt his potential.