Liverpool Turn to Galatasaray After Geertruida and Dumfries Deals Collapse

Liverpool have shifted their recruitment focus to Galatasaray right-back Roland Sallai after seeing moves for two primary targets fall flat, sources suggest.

The Reds have been caught short in the right-back department following Conor Bradley's injury last month, which is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the campaign. Jeremie Frimpong's absence for several weeks has only compounded Arne Slot's defensive woes.

Lutsharel Geertruida emerged as the initial option, with the RB Leipzig defender currently on loan at Sunderland. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed that Liverpool had entered negotiations with the Black Cats, noting Slot's familiarity with the player from their time together at Feyenoord. Romano stated that personal terms had been agreed and Geertruida was keen on the switch, but the deal subsequently unravelled. Sunderland ultimately blocked the transfer, with discussions failing to progress over a 24-hour period.

Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries represented another avenue, though that route has now been firmly shut down. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta dismissed Liverpool's interest outright, telling reporters: "Liverpool keen on Dumfries? Some phone calls are to the limit of correctness, done even in a sudden way, which do nothing but destabilise. Absolutely no chance. Dumfries stays with us here at Inter."

With both avenues exhausted, Liverpool have turned their attention to Sallai. The Galatasaray defender, who represents Hungary alongside Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, now features on the Merseyside club's radar as a contingency option should negotiations with Sunderland remain deadlocked.

Meanwhile, Paul Merson has expressed bewilderment at Liverpool's decision to sign Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet on a deal that will see him arrive in the summer rather than immediately. Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson questioned the logic: "I found it extraordinary that he's coming in the summer. They need a centre-half now to get top four or top five. It surprises me. It's a good signing – as a Chelsea fan I'm shocked he hasn't come to Chelsea, but I'm glad Achaempong is now staying. I'm majorly shocked. I don't know why for the life of me he's staying in France until the start of next season. With that kind of money, you want him now!"