Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jordan Henderson Rumours

Jurgen Klopp has reportedly asked Liverpool to sanction a bid for Inter Milan holding midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia. The Reds manager is said to be keen on testing the Serie A club's resolve by making an offer in January.

Italian source TransfermarketWeb (h/t Dan Gibbs of the Daily Express) reported how Klopp sees powerhouse Kondogbia as the perfect player to shield a suspect defence.

Klopp's chances of prising Kondogbia away from Italy's top flight seem strong, thanks to a falling-out with Inter head coach Frank de Boer, per the report:

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But the 23-year-old’s relationship with manager Frank de Boer has soured this term after the Dutchman hauled him off after just 28 minutes against Bologna last month and publicly criticised his performance.

The Frenchman has managed just four appearances after falling down the pecking order with Ever Banega, Joao Mario and Gary Medel ahead of him.

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Frankly, it's a surprise De Boer doesn't have more faith in a player contracted to Inter until 2020. After all, Kondogbia has all the attributes a modern midfield talisman needs.

Aside from his obvious physical power, the former Sevilla and AS Monaco man also possesses a sweet left foot. He can pick a pass between the lines and thunder in dangerous shots from distance.

At his best, the 23-year-old is equal parts tough-tackling destroyer and cerebral playmaker. Perhaps that's why De Boer recently compared Kondogbia to Manchester United's world-record signing Paul Pogba, per Jonathan Spencer of MailOnline—a hint that relations might not be as frosty as they appear.

Premier League audiences got a glimpse of Kondogbia's talent when he helped Monaco knock Arsenal out of the UEFA Champions League in 2015. The Ligue 1 side beat the Gunners 3-1 in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, thanks largely to the France international's dominance of the middle.

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His destructive instincts overwhelmed Arsenal's schemers and wrecked the north London club's intricate passing game, while his driving runs made Monaco lethal on the break.

Liverpool could use those qualities from the base of midfield. Kondogbia is a major upgrade over Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva and Emre Can, so it's no wonder the Reds are being so heavily linked with the Frenchman.

Earlier this month, Italian source Web Calcio (h/t the Daily Star's Marc Williams) reported Liverpool were keen on a loan move involving paying the player's wages for the remainder of this season.

His agent, Jonathan Maarek, has also talked up interest in his client to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Liam Corless of the Daily Mirror).

If there's any chance of signing Kondogbia, Klopp is right to push for the deal. Adding his robust qualities alongside the artistry of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino would surely make the Reds a major player in the title race.

Jordan Henderson Signing Cost Damien Comolli his Job

Former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has called signing Jordan Henderson "one of the main reasons I got sacked."

He also revealed how he was told by club owners that Henderson would prove a waste of money after the Reds spent £16 million to sign the midfielder from Sunderland in 2011.

Speaking to Jim White of Sky Sports in an interview for TalkSport, Comolli revealed the stir his decision to sign Henderson caused: "The day I got sacked they [Liverpool’s owners] told me I had made a big mistake on Jordan and he was a waste of money."

But Comolli has defended the transfer, while even suggesting Henderson has proved worth the fee: "I never said it publicly, but I was convinced he would be the future captain. People will say it is easy to say now, but I was convinced at the time that he would become the Liverpool captain. Now he is and he is also the England captain."

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Henderson has enjoyed a strong recent rise in his career, but many may raise an eyebrow at Comolli's conviction he did the right thing paying so much for the midfielder. Although always a hard worker, the 26-year-old can sometimes lack quality on the ball.

He was chided for his struggles in possession during a 2-0 defeat at Burnley earlier this season, per the Daily Express. Such criticism prompted Klopp to defend his skipper and excuse his issues with decision-making, per Paul Joyce of the Daily Express.

The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce also leaped to Henderson's defence after those lamenting England's failures at this summer's UEFA Euro 2016 apparently singled the midfielder out.

Henderson's inconsistencies on the ball make him continuing to take set pieces for Liverpool a little curious—a strange thing in a squad featuring maestros such as Coutinho and Firmino.

Yet Comolli cited the player's creative output at Sunderland as a major reason behind the transfer, even referencing the support of former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.

However, despite the endorsements, it's easy to always think Liverpool could upgrade Henderson. He's never been able to convince he's consistently much more than a grafter. He's a fiery leader, full of tenacity and endeavour, but a player ultimately lacking top-level quality.

In fairness, Henderson has been a selfless professional. He's dropped deeper this season to play a holding role and let Klopp's platoon of playmakers roam freely in forward areas.

But with Kondogbia on Klopp's mind, it may not be long before Comolli's big-money investment is warming the Anfield bench.