Pep Lijnders targets Liverpool player as first transfer as Reds linked with £50m Spain star

Former Liverpool assistant Pep Ljinders is reportedly looking to land one of Anfield’s young talents this transfer window.

The Dutchman is due to assume the manager role at RB Salzburg at the start of the Austrian club’s pre-season having left Merseyside alongside Jurgen Klopp last season. This is Lijnders’ second job as a first-team manager having previously taken charge of Dutch club NEC in 2018 before his return to Liverpool.

The 41-year-old confirmed last month that Klopp had asked him multiple times whether he wanted to succeed the German at Anfield but refused, with Liverpool ultimately deciding to take a different path anyway. His appointment at Salzburg was announced ahead of his final Anfield outing.

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He subsequently joked that he would look to take Conor Bradley with him to his new job but Salzburger Nachrichten says he is more serious about recruiting Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Austrian champions Sturm Graz, keeping seven assists in 21 outings.

The Czech, brought into the academy in 2017, has never featured for Liverpool’s senior side but did make the bench in three of the club’s Europa League games last season. He now has a year left on his contract.

Jaros made an unexpected international debut in this month’s 7-1 thrashing over Malta and is in the squad for his country’s Euro 2024 campaign, which includes a group game against Diogo Jota’s Portugal.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo says Liverpool are chasing RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo amid competition from Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester United. The attacking midfielder recorded eight goals and five assists last season and is due to play a role in Spain’s Euro 2024 journey.

The report indicates that the Reds are leading the race for Omlo, who can play as a number 10 and is apparently being priced at £50.5m.

He addressed the speculation surrounding his future ahead of the Euros, stating: "I am open to possibilities that may arise, but I am going to give you a cliche: I am focused on the first match of the Euro Cup."