Sunderland will seek a compensation fee from Liverpool before allowing Lutsharel Geertruida to rejoin Arne Slot at Anfield.
The Netherlands international has emerged as a leading option to solve Liverpool’s defensive issues, with both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley injured.
Geertruida joined Sunderland on loan from RB Leipzig last summer and the German club have no recall option. That means Sunderland, for whom the 25-year-old has made 17 appearances this season, are in a strong position. It is understood they want compensation for the deal to happen.
Slot knows Geertruida — who can play at right back, centre half and other positions — well, with the duo having been in tandem when Feyenoord won the Dutch title in 2023.
Initial talks have taken place between Sunderland and Liverpool, who will also have to negotiate with RB Leipzig.
Sunderland are not expected to stand in Geertruida’s way, given the potential size of the move, however they are keen to line up a replacement before they agree to the defender’s departure.
Frimpong will be sidelined for weeks with a groin injury
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Geertruida played more than 200 times for Feyenoord before completing a £17million move to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2024, and he made 35 appearances for them before arriving at the Stadium of Light at the end of last summer’s transfer window.
Dominik Szoboszlai played at right back in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, with Wataru Endo having played there as a substitute against Qarabag last Wednesday following the groin injury to Frimpong.
The 25-year-old will be sidelined for a few weeks, with Bradley’s season having been ended by a knee injury.
One loanee back in, one back out at Chelsea
Chelsea are considering a recall for defender Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg before the transfer deadline, while Aaron Anselmino, the Argentinian centre back who was recalled from Borussia Dortmund last month, is set to join the French club on loan (Peter Rutzler writes).
Liam Rosenior, the Chelsea head coach, is known to be a particular admirer of Sarr, while the Senegal defender’s growing maturity has persuaded Chelsea to consider bringing him back after he impressed during the Africa Cup of Nations, which he won with his country last month.
Chelsea have been searching for a central defender over the past weeks, and are also still speaking to Rennes about Jérémy Jacquet. The French club have been demanding a high fee and, as it stands, no agreement has yet been reached, but the talks are regarded as separate to a possible Sarr recall. No final decision has been taken yet regarding Sarr, but an agreement on bringing Anselmino to Strasbourg is near completion.
Rosenior is big admirer of Sarr, the 20-year-old defender, having worked with him at Strasbourg
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Sarr, 20, joined Chelsea last summer on a permanent deal worth about £12million from Strasbourg, the Ligue 1 club who are, like Chelsea, owned by BlueCo, the consortium led by Clearlake Capital along with Todd Boehly, Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss. The Senegal international made his debut for Chelsea at the Club World Cup, but then returned to Strasbourg on a season-long loan.
Anselmino also debuted in the United States in the summer, having joined Chelsea from Boca Juniors, but then joined Dortmund on a season-long loan.
He had made an impression at the Bundesliga side, but was recalled last month, to the surprise of his loan club. Dortmund expressed their “deep regret” at his “sudden” departure in a statement and posted on social media a clip of Anselmino in tears as he bade his team-mates farewell.
Chelsea are understood to be upset with Dortmund, particularly at how they perceived the German club to have been pursuing the permanent signing of Anselmino on a pre-agreement. They regard him as not for sale.
It is understood that Dortmund would have welcomed a return for Anselmino on loan, given they did not want him to leave, but accepted his recall. However, sources in Germany say there were no plans to sign him on a pre-agreement.
Lookman looking to join Atletico Madrid in £35million move
Ademola Lookman is in talks to join Atletico Madrid from Atalanta in a £35million deal (Paul Joyce writes).
Lookman, a former winger with Everton and Fulham, had wanted to join Inter Milan in the summer
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Lookman — the former Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City winger — is due to undergo a medical in the Spanish capital.
The 28-year-old had wanted to join Inter Milan in the summer, but that deal was blocked by Atalanta.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are close to completing a loan move for Angel Gomes. The England midfielder is at Marseille, whom he joined from Lille last summer.
Meanwhile, Everton are continuing to work on a loan deal for Chelsea’s teenage winger Tyrique George.
Sunderland goalkeeper completes Millwall loan move
The Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has completed a season-long loan move to Millwall, linking up with his former manager Alex Neil (Martin Hardy writes). The 25-year-old, one of the heroes of Sunderland’s play-off final win at Wembley against Sheffield United to get the club promoted to the Premier League, has lost his starting place to Robin Roefs this season.
Sunderland have signed the 22-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Melker Ellborg for £3million from Malmo FF, subject to international clearance.
“I feel amazing to have signed for the club,” said Ellborg. He will not be eligible to play against Burnley on Monday night.