Liverpool have agreed a £10 million deal with Hull City for left-back Andy Robertson, with his medical pencilled in for Thursday.
The Reds will pay an initial £8m for the 23-year-old, who has been extensively scouted over the past two seasons and has rebuffed interest from Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion, Watford, as well as Burnley, to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s rearguard.
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The Scotland international ends Liverpool's difficulty in recruiting for the position. Goal can reveal that Roma’s Emerson Palmieri was the initial target for the Anfield side and a bid was being prepped for the Brazil-born Italy defender, but he then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the final day of the Serie A season against Genoa.
Giallorossi president James Pallotta indicated the Merseysiders had interest in more than just Mohamed Salah during a radio interview in June.
Klopp also wanted to sign Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon as a long-term solution at full-back this summer, however, the 17-year-old made clear his desire to continue his development in London and penned a three-year contract at Craven Cottage.
New €75m bid rejected for Keita
A check was made on the possibility of landing Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy, but the France international is enthused by the prospect of joining Manchester City.
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Robertson will become Liverpool’s third signing of the summer following the additions of Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke.
The former PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year will provide proper competition to James Milner on the left of Liverpool’s defence, with Alberto Moreno having started just eight games in total last season.
Robertson, who will not fly out to Hong Kong, has also featured further forward on that flank and will offer more of an offensive, aggressive edge to Klopp.
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The Tigers will make a tidy profit on the defender, whom they signed from Dundee United for £2.85m in the summer of 2014.
Robertson will also earn the Scottish side 10% of his transfer fee due to a sell-on clause negotiated during his switch to the KCOM Stadium.
The transfer represents good business by Liverpool as they are set to receive up to £8m for Kevin Stewart, who moves in the opposite direction. Hull will pay £5.5m initially for the midfielder.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig owner Dietrich Mateschitz revealed the club rejected a £66.3m offer for the Reds' priority target Naby Keita.
"Lately we got a €75m offer for Naby Keita. No way! He has a contract and he will accomplish it," he told Bild.
“To sell him would not only be a proof of distrust to our fans but also the wrong sign for our players like Timo Werner, who is in demand too."