Sports
Liverpool complete scouting mission to sign Kees Smit as De Jong comparison emerges
Liverpool officials have reportedly completed their scouting mission in the race to sign a young Dutch midfielder who’s been compared to Frenkie De Jong.
Liverpool sack set-piece coach
After a woeful set-piece record in the Premier League this season, Liverpool have sacked set-piece coach Aaron Briggs. The decision has been made with immediate effect and the responsibility will now be shared among the rest of the Reds’ coaching staff as they look to end a miserable defensive run in that area.
What was a key strength under Jurgen Klopp and under Arne Slot last season as Liverpool secured Premier League glory has now become their biggest weakness.
After conceding 12 goals from set-pieces this season, with the latest coming against Wolverhampton Wanderers, those at Anfield have decided that enough is enough. They will hope that, even without directly replacing Briggs for the time being, things will now improve.
That said, it may not be the only change in Merseyside in the next month. The Premier League champions could find themselves busy on the transfer front in the January transfer window.
Whilst they’re set to miss out on Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City, recent reports have claimed that Liverpool could yet make another move to sign Marc Guehi next month.
Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool could sign “best CM prospect in the world”
Liverpool are weighing up a winter move for a new centre-midfielder.
Several clubs are lying in wait to secure the Crystal Palace man when he becomes a free agent in the summer. Those at Anfield, however, could swoop in early by offering Palace one last chance to cash in.
Guehi’s arrival would certainly help solve some of their problems, perhaps including from set pieces, but he’s not the only name on their shortlist. According to TeamTalk, Liverpool have now also completed their scouting mission to sign Kees Smit in the summer.
Liverpool complete Kees Smit scouting mission
The young Dutchman is becoming the talk of the Premier League amid interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and it’s easy to see why.
One scout went as far as to claim that the AZ Alkmaar man is the “best midfield prospect since Frenkie De Jong” in the Netherlands – telling TeamTalk: “He is a very clever footballer, many clubs actually thought they had spotted a player that others might not be aware of but it has become apparent in recent months that everyone is watching him.
“He is a genuine talent, when you think of an Adam Wharton in England – this is the Dutch version of that. He is probably the best Dutch midfield prospect since Frenkie De Jong, and he hasn’t done bad, has he? He really is superb and is someone everyone will be talking about this summer.”
As such, Liverpool could reportedly have to pay around £65m if they want to welcome the 19-year-old in the summer in what would be another expensive move from Michael Edwards and Co.
