Over the summer, Liverpool were linked with a move for Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel, and new developments this weekend suggest that the Belgium international will definitely be available at some point over the next year.
Recent LFC transfer timeline:
* Jun 2016: Tutto Mercato claimed: "Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Alex Witsel, who is currently on €4m a year [€77k-a-week]".
* Jul 2016: Witsel confirmed: "I'd like to play next season in the Premier League or Italy. I hope to move up a level and play in a big European club".
* Jul 2016: When asked about Witsel's future, Zenit boss Mircea Lucescu noted: "He [Witsel] has asked to leave. He has two offers from Italy and two from England".
When asked on Saturday about Witsel's future, Zenit sporting director Maksim Mitrofanov told Itasportpress:
"The club have no intention to extend Witsel's deal. Witsel doesn't want to leave us until the end of his deal [but] we have already had an offer".
Jurgen Klopp signed Giorgino Wijnaldum over the summer, but he and Henderson are not a positional-specialists like Witsel, who plays most often as a defensive-midfielder (a position Liverpool arguably need to fill).
According to his agent, Witsel is worth '€40m', but Zenit's bargaining position is significantly weakened due to Witsel's desire to leave, and the fact he has only one year left on his contract.
Should Liverpool pursue Witsel in January (or next summer), or is the club covered in central midfield?
^ Hailed by Belgium boss Marc Wilmots for his 'outstanding' performances at Euro 2016:
Recent LFC transfer timeline:
* Jun 2016: Tutto Mercato claimed: "Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Alex Witsel, who is currently on €4m a year [€77k-a-week]".
* Jul 2016: Witsel confirmed: "I'd like to play next season in the Premier League or Italy. I hope to move up a level and play in a big European club".
* Jul 2016: When asked about Witsel's future, Zenit boss Mircea Lucescu noted: "He [Witsel] has asked to leave. He has two offers from Italy and two from England".
When asked on Saturday about Witsel's future, Zenit sporting director Maksim Mitrofanov told Itasportpress:
"The club have no intention to extend Witsel's deal. Witsel doesn't want to leave us until the end of his deal [but] we have already had an offer".
Jurgen Klopp signed Giorgino Wijnaldum over the summer, but he and Henderson are not a positional-specialists like Witsel, who plays most often as a defensive-midfielder (a position Liverpool arguably need to fill).
According to his agent, Witsel is worth '€40m', but Zenit's bargaining position is significantly weakened due to Witsel's desire to leave, and the fact he has only one year left on his contract.
Should Liverpool pursue Witsel in January (or next summer), or is the club covered in central midfield?
^ Hailed by Belgium boss Marc Wilmots for his 'outstanding' performances at Euro 2016:
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