Friday's Liverpool transfer talk news roundup: Diogo Jota, Ismaila Sarr, Marcus Thuram

The summer transfer window has now closed and attention will begin to turn to January for Premier League champions Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp's side brought in Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas during the summer, making for one of their busier transfer windows in the last couple of years.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings from Anfield.

Friday morning's Liverpool transfer talk news roundup:

Diogo Jota 'was a Plan B signing for Liverpool over the summer'

© Reuters

Liverpool reportedly only decided to move for Diogo Jota during the summer transfer window after deeming Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr too expensive at £45m.

Jota joined the Reds from Wolverhampton Wanderers in September, penning a five-year contract at Anfield.

The 23-year-old has made an excellent start to his Liverpool career, scoring seven times in 10 appearances in all competitions, including a hat-trick against Atalanta BC in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Jota has also netted in both of his new team's last two Premier League matches, but according to The Mirror, the Portugal international was not the club's first choice signing in the recent market.

The report claims that Sarr had been identified as a leading target, but the English champions were not prepared to meet the asking price for the attacker and quickly switched their attention to Jota.

The Portuguese cost Jurgen Klopp's side in the region of £41m.

Barcelona, Manchester City 'join Liverpool in race for Marcus Thuram'

© Reuters

Barcelona and Manchester City are reportedly preparing to battle Liverpool for the signature of Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Marcus Thuram during next summer's transfer window.

The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for his German club during the 2020-21 campaign, scoring three times and contributing five assists in 10 appearances in all competitions.

A recent report claimed that Liverpool were interested in signing the attacker, who is the son of World Cup winner and France legend Lilian Thuram.

However, according to Bild, both Barca and Man City are also in the hunt for a player who has two goals and two assists in three Champions League outings this season.

Thuram, who has earned a call up to the France squad for the nation's upcoming matches against Finland, Portugal and Sweden, is contracted to Gladbach until June 2023.

The former Sochaux youngster has scored 17 times and registered 14 assists in 49 outings for his current club.

More transfer news from Liverpool:

Barcelona, Real Madrid 'keeping an eye on Michael Olise'
Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly both monitoring Reading youngster Michael Olise. Read more.

Barcelona, Manchester United 'interested in Nicolo Barella'
Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is attracting interest from Barcelona and Manchester United, according to a report. Read more.

Liverpool-linked Ozan Kabak 'available for £27m in January'
Schalke 04 are prepared to sell Liverpool-linked Ozan Kabak for £27m in January, according to a report. Read more.

Juventus 'firmly in the race for David Alaba'
Juventus are in the mix to sign Bayern Munich defender David Alaba on a free transfer, according to a report. Read more.