Liverpool suffer significant setback in pursuit of 23-year-old ace – report

Liverpool supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern this week after seeing their side get back to winning ways by easing past Stoke City 3-0 on Wednesday night, thus extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their clash at the bet365 Stadium off the back of draws against Sevilla and Chelsea, both of which were games they could and perhaps should have won. Yet there was little doubt about the result in Staffordshire on Wednesday as a brace from Mohamed Salah as well as Sadio Mane’s fifth of the campaign was enough to seal a comfortably victory for the Merseysiders, a result which moved them up to fifth in the Premier League table at the expense of Tottenham.

Thus, there has been many thrilled Liverpudlians in the Tavern this week, although they are unlikely to be overly pleased with a recent report from The Sun, which outlines a significant setback in their pursuit of Roma defender Emerson Palmieri.

The 23-year-old ace made the move to the Italian giants back in 2015 and has since then gone from strength to strength with 45 appearances for the club, although injury has so far wrecked his 2017/18 season given he has yet to appear for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side.

And Liverpool were one side reportedly interested in the left-back over the summer only for no deal to materialise, yet reports last month suggested that the Reds were going to reignite their interest given that Roma were reportedly willing to sell the defender.

However, Palmieri has since struck a blow in Klopp’s transfer plans, saying: ‘I have heard that clubs such as Inter Milan and Liverpool are seeking to sign me.

‘But I am under contract with Roma. I am flattered by stories such as these. However, I want to stay here in Rome. I am happy here.’

And this is sure to come as a mighty blow to Liverpool and manager Klopp, with it looking likely that he’ll have to turn his attentions to other transfer targets in a bid to strengthen his defensive options.

Landlord’s verdict: Liverpool’s defensive woes have been well documented for a while now, and although Alberto Moreno made a decent start to the campaign at left-back, some unconvincing displays in recent times have been somewhat reminiscent of his struggles last term.

And it appears that manager Jurgen Klopp was planning to improve that department over the summer by expressing an interest in Roma’s Emerson Palmieri, only for no deal to materialise, while the Reds were again linked with him earlier this month as reports suggested that the 23-year-old would be allowed to leave in January.

However, the man himself has all but ended any speculation by reiterating his desire to remain in Rome, which is sure to strike a significant blow into Klopp’s January transfer plans.

Liverpool fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know!