Liverpool 'in picture' for $128m transfer as Arne Slot's first signing in charge predicted

Liverpool is supposedly one of the teams interested in Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while Ryan Babel has another idea for who should become Arne Slot's first signing at Anfield. Here's your round-up of the latest Liverpool news.

Liverpool 'interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia'

Ahead of the summer, Liverpool is one of the clubs who are interested in signing Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to a report emerging from Italy. The 23-year-old Georgian could be on the move and the Reds are 'in the picture'.

"Is Kvaratskhelia’s agent talking to De Laurentiis? I believe the agent will meet the president next week," Bacho Tsalugelashvili, a journalist for Gazzetta dello Sport, said, via Area Napoli. "However, either the contract renewal will materialize or Kvara will go to a top club. I don’t know if it is Barcelona or another team.

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"Could it be a Premier League club? I don’t know. Liverpool are also interested in Kvaratskhelia, although Barcelona’s interest is more concrete. There are management sources who confirm the Blaugrana’s desire."

The same reporter suggested that Kvaratskhelia could cost as much as $128m (£102m/€120m). Liverpool already has Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota who can play down the left-hand side, where the Napoli man is best. Barcelona, meanwhile, would surely struggle to afford that.

Ryan Babel names first player Arne Slot should sign this summer

Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has named a player who should be high on the Reds' radar ahead of the summer. The Dutchman knows Arne Slot, the incoming new manager, better than most Liverpool fans.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see Arne Slot bringing in some players he already knows, perhaps from Feyenoord," Babel told Ladbrokes Fanzone. "There's already a rumor that he wants to sign Lutsharel Geertruida; he's a good player, a national team player.

"He's someone who likes playing football, he's physically strong and I think he could be potentially ready to fit into this Liverpool squad. The question is, where does he play? Center-back, or right-back? He's capable of playing both, and I think Liverpool already has strong options in that area.

"But I think that with him being Dutch, naturally he'll want a few people in his squad who speak the language. But also he'll want people who already understand what he expects from his team, and his philosophy.

"Luckily, there are already three Dutch players at Liverpool in Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, who will understand what he wants immediately. That will be an advantage, absolutely."