Liverpool face fight to land English star as Kretinsky orders West Ham into action
Liverpool have a fight on their hands to sign a top West Ham star after Daniel Kretinsky reportedly ordered the Irons into action.
Kretinsky is a Czech billionaire who owns Europa League outfit Sparta Prague. He is now on the West Ham board after purchasing a 27 per cent stake in the club last month.
The businessman could complete a full takeover in the near future, with a fee already agreed with David Sullivan and David Gold.
Kretinsky is already having a big say on West Ham’s future. He wants them to complete a ‘gradual evolution’ into a top-four side.
To do that, they will need to keep manager David Moyes and a host of their top players. But that will not be easy as clubs such as Man Utd and Liverpool loiter in the transfer market.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are hoping to prize forward Jarrod Bowen away from the London Stadium, although Kretinsky is issuing an immediate response.
90Min report that West Ham will open contract talks with Bowen in the new year. They are aware of the growing interest and believe it can be put off with a new deal.
He currently takes home £80,000 per week, according to Salary Sport.
Liverpool will now need to evaluate whether the Englishman is worth the huge price tag about to be put on his head. Bowen is seen as a successor to either Mo Salah or Sadio Mane in attack, but it will be tough to prize him away from West Ham.
The 24-year-old will be expecting to start when Moyes’ side travel to Burnley on Sunday.
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Klopp sends Gerrard Liverpool warning
Meanwhile, Klopp has been weighing in on Steven Gerrard’s chances of managing Liverpool in the future.
The Reds legend will return to Anfield on Saturday afternoon with Aston Villa. Many see the role as an audition to become Klopp’s successor, but the German thinks caution needs to be shown.
When asked if Gerrard can manage the club, Klopp told a press conference: “Oh yeah, yes I think absolutely. The only problem is when is the right moment for that? That’s not now about Stevie, but we saw it with Frank [Lampard], for example, at Chelsea. It’s a similar story.
“I really think that Stevie is doing really well because he’s very young still from a manager’s point of view.
“So when is the right moment to take the job? It’s not that he’s not able to do it, but how long do you want to do it?
“Is this the last job you do, is it the first, second or third, whatever. They are questions I cannot answer, but yes it will definitely happen and it’s good for everybody.”
Predictions: Klopp to school Gerrard on Anfield return; Chelsea sink Leeds
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