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Liverpool desperate to agree deal before Real Madrid can pounce
Liverpool have already begun to rebuild the squad that won the Premier League last season.
The forward line was the main focus last summer, with two new fullbacks also being added, and a deal has already been agreed for Jeremy Jacquet to move to Anfield and bolster the defence in the summer.
The Reds’ next logical step is to address the midfield, especially as there have been times this season that all of the club’s available midfielders have been on the pitch at once.
A whole host of midfielders have been linked with a Merseyside move ahead of the summer, but one of the most intriguing names is Kees Smit, and a fresh report has offered more insight into Liverpool’s pursuit of the Dutchman.
Why Liverpool are prioritising Kees Smit
Arne Slot’s side are not the only ones interested in signing Smit this summer with several of Europe’s top sides, including Real Madrid, also monitoring the 20-year-old.
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According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Reds have accelerated their interest and even contacted Smit’s entourage to get a deal agreed before any other team can.
A fee of around €50 million (~£43.5m) could be enough to persuade AZ Alkmaar to sell, but with multiple teams interested a bidding war is always a possibility.
The report states that Liverpool are keen to avoid finding themselves missing out on another midfield target to Real Madrid, with Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni both opting to join Los Blancos over the Reds in years gone by.
Smit has established himself as a key player for AZ Alkmaar and has demonstrated a versatility in midfield that would be extremely useful in the Premier League.
With some doubt over the futures of a number of Liverpool’s current midfield options, the Reds desire to get a deal done as soon as possible is understandable, but things are rarely that simple in football.
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“I don’t really like this” – Reece James reveals what he’s learnt about himself at Chelsea
Reece James has had to learn some hard lessons as a footballer and he’s revealed what he’s learned about his body as he’s got older.
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James has struggled with injury throughout his career, but it now seems those problems are firmly behind him, and he’s back to performing at his best for Chelsea.
The 26-year-old is now one of the older members of the squad, and is certainly looked to as a point of reference to the younger players.
Reece James on what he’s learnt about his body
It may look like things are easy for James at the moment, but for large parts of his career he’s massively struggled with injury, especially with his hamstrings.
However, James has been injury free for well over a year, and both he and Chelsea’s medical department deserve huge credit for getting to this point.
James appears to have put his injury problems behind him. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
The skipper returned against Hull City last week having missed the previous three games, and James has revealed what he’s learnt about his body as he’s got older.
“The more games you play, the more you adapt,” he told the latest episode of CFC Unlocked.
“When I first got onto the scene, there wasn’t much of a routine, I wouldn’t say.
“As I have got older and learned and understood my body more, I’ve tried things and learned, ‘I don’t really like this, I don’t feel good when I do this.'”
Chelsea captain leading by example
James also admitted he found it very tough being captain at the beginning, and you can really see the leader he’s developed into.
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Robert Sanchez revealed James is always the first one out on the training pitch, and you can see the players respect him.
Chelsea host Burnley on Saturday, and James will hope to be named in the starting line-up before a difficult March begins with back to back away games against Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here: