Liverpool‘s midfield search has already thrown up some hefty price tags, and January is still weeks away.
Alex Scott is a reported top target, but Bournemouth want around £100 million for the midfielder, with Chelsea still pushing and suggestions he has already chosen Anfield dismissed.
Andoni Iraola‘s previous work with Scott gives that link an obvious extra pull, but getting the player out of Bournemouth would require Liverpool to dig deep into their coffers.
Felix Nmecha has also been mentioned as an alternative if the Scott chase goes nowhere. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is admired on Merseyside, although his club’s stance makes a winter agreement look difficult.
|
Felix Nmecha’s stats for Borussia Dortmund last season |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Bundesliga |
29 |
2 |
3 |
|
Champions League |
10 |
3 |
0 |
|
DFB-Pokal |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
All competitions |
42 |
5 |
3 |
Their reported valuation of Nmecha runs as high as £84 million, so the German hardly looks like an easy answer to any concerns about the cost of buying a new midfielder.
Dortmund have him tied down until 2030, and reports suggest his release clause will only become active next summer.
Now a very different Bundesliga story has landed in Liverpool’s lap.
Liverpool receive Lennart Karl transfer alert as agents make calls over Bayern future
According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, intermediaries have been phoning interested clubs about Lennart Karl’s position at Bayern Munich.
Liverpool are among those brought up to speed as questions grow over the teenager’s future.
Arsenal and Man United have also been alerted, while Barcelona and Real Madrid remain admirer, and that is a serious queue for a player who only turned 18 in February.
Karl chose to stay at Bayern earlier this year despite Liverpool’s interest. Bailey now reports that reduced opportunities and concerns within the club have complicated matters, with 2027 potentially bringing a fresh decision.
There have apparently been concerns over Karl’s off-field behaviour too, resulting in some tension behind-the-scenes.
The arrival of Ismael Saibari has added to the fight for places.
Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness has also publicly challenged Karl to show humility and warned against comparisons with Michael Olise.
For Liverpool, the immediate task would be understanding whether this is a temporary bump or something that could actually lead to a transfer.
Bayern still hold the cards, as Karl is contracted until June 2029, giving them plenty of protection if clubs start testing the water.
A transfer would require Bayern’s approval, however many agents start making call, yet it is easy to see why Liverpool would keep listening.
Karl is a left-footed attacking player who can carry the ball and threaten goal, having climbed through Bayern’s academy after joining in 2022.
His senior debut came at the Club World Cup in June 2025, and he’s since reached Germany’s senior team, although injury cost him a place at this summer’s World Cup.
That is plenty packed into a short career, even allowing for the difficulties now being reported in Munich.
Liverpool would need to offer a convincing footballing plan if the situation developed.
The Reds missed out when Karl renewed his contract, but Bailey’s update gives them a reason to look again, and his chances of reclaiming a bigger Bayern role could shape whether another opportunity ever opens up.
