Liverpool are in advanced talks with Olympiakos over a deal to sign left-back Kostas Samikas, who has been linked with a move for Norwich’s Jamal Lewis.
Jürgen Klopp is looking for back-up Andy Robertson this summer and submitted a £10m bid to allow Lewis to stay in the Premier League, but Norwich stood firm at their £20m price tag.
Tsimikas will undergo medical soon / DeFodi Images/Getty Images
With Liverpool’s transfer budget taking a huge hit as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, spending £20m on a reserve left-back was never an option, and now Melissa Reddy says the focus is on Samika for £11.75m. The agreement has been drawn.
Talks over the deal are understood to be so advanced that plans are already being made for Samikas to travel to Liverpool for a medical, which could come as early as next week.
The 24-year-old has been on Liverpool’s radar for some time, while the likes of Leicester and Manchester City have tracked him in the past 12 months, so it seemed only a matter of time before he made the move to the Premier League. .
Tsimikas, who has faced Tottenham, Wolves and Arsenal in Europe this season, has made seven assists in 46 appearances for Olympiacos, making his return to the Greece international set-up.
He would likely struggle to match those outward numbers if he were to move to Liverpool, with Robertson almost certain to remain the first-choice option on the left, but Klopp would eventually need someone to cover for the Scot. There will be relief.
In action against Tsimikas Arsenal/MB Media/Getty Images
Alberto Moreno’s departure last summer forced Klopp to turn to temporary options such as James Milner and Joe Gomez whenever Robertson was unavailable, so even in the summer with little money on offer, the new lefty Signing a back was always high on the agenda.
That is why Liverpool moved quickly to try and strike a deal for Lewis, who is understood to be desperate for a move to Anfield, but to sell one of their young stars to Norwich. There was no pressure and he successfully put Liverpool out of action.
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