Liverpool Faces Transfer Speculation Ahead of Premier League Kickoff

As Liverpool prepares for their opening match of the Premier League season against newly promoted Ipswich Town, the focus has shifted to potential departures from the club. New manager Arne Slot is currently evaluating his squad, which has only participated in two pre-season fixtures and is missing several key players due to international commitments. Reports indicate that Liverpool has rejected a nearly £12 million bid from Marseille for Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo, as the French club's new manager, Roberto De Zerbi, seeks to bolster his midfield. In addition to Endo, Liverpool is expected to pursue further midfield reinforcements. However, Slot has welcomed back Stefan Bajcetic, who missed most of last season due to injury. The young midfielder reflected on his challenging year, stating that the experience has made him stronger and he is eager to return to action. The team's tactical adjustments may also influence their transfer strategy, as evidenced by the recent match against Real Betis, where Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai both took turns in the number 10 role. Furthermore, Liverpool has turned down a bid for defender Sepp van den Berg from PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch club reportedly offering only £8 million, while Liverpool values the player at around £20 million. Young winger Ben Doak is also attracting interest from clubs in both the Premier League and Championship, with Leicester City and Southampton keen on a potential loan deal, as he looks to regain form after knee surgery sidelined him for much of last season.