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Paper Round: Jurgen Klopp could lure Steven Gerrard back to Liverpool

Ryan Rosenblatt

Updated 08/10/2015 at 07:21 GMT

Could Steven Gerrard head back to Liverpool and what will Jurgen Klopp do in January? That and more from the Thursday papers.

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard before playing against Club America at Stubhub Center

Image credit: Reuters

Gerrard could return to Liverpool - LA Galaxy are concerned that Jurgen Klopp could lure Steven Gerrard back to Liverpool, according to The Mirror. Klopp hasn't spoken to Gerrard, or even reached out yet, but the Galaxy believe that the new Liverpool manager is interested in bringing him back. Gerrard has said that he would like to return to Liverpool one day and Klopp thinks the club legend could fit into his backroom staff.
Paper Round's view: The MLS side aren't going to just let Gerrard leave. They'll demand a transfer fee, so returning to Liverpool as a player-coach is out for now. Gerrard's only way back to Anfield in January is to retire and take up coaching under Klopp, but that option is also there a year later. It seems far more likely that Gerrard would play across the pond through 2016, as he is contracted to do, and then join the Liverpool staff.
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Jurgen Klopp

Image credit: Reuters

Klopp trying to avoid major changes - Klopp doesn't want to overhaul the Liverpool team if he doesn't have to. The Express believe the German is set to give everyone at the club a chance to prove themselves and is hoping the current squad will show enough to tempt him away from the transfer market. The owners reckon that the squad is better than the recent results and do not want constant change at Anfield.
Paper Round's view: Liverpool have spent a lot of money in the last few years so it's no surprise that the owners want to swerve spending big again. There's talent in the team and Klopp did a great job at Dortmund of taking players that people weren't especially keen on and turning them into fantastic footballers. It only makes sense that he take stock of the Liverpool squad before he hatches a plan for January.
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Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho looks dejected after being sent off

Image credit: Reuters

Coutinho not talking to other clubs- Philippe Coutinho is happy at Liverpool and is not setting the stage for a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona, according to his agent. Reports out of Spain claimed that he was considering a move to one of the country's mega clubs, even going as far as opening talks with them, but his agent made it clear that the reports were untrue. "Philippe is extremely happy at Liverpool," he said.
Paper Round's view: Coutinho isn't going anywhere until the summer, at the earliest, so there's no reason to get going on talks with clubs now, especially considering the upheaval at Liverpool. That is a recipe for disaster. We'll have to see how Coutinho fits in under (presumably) Jurgen Klopp, but Liverpool did just give him a new contract so it's not as if they have to sell and it's unlikely they will anytime soon.
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Man City planning move for Coutinho - Coutinho may not be talking to any clubs right now, but The Mirror understand that Manchester City are drawing up plans to sign him in the summer. The Citizens see Coutinho as a perfect replacement for David Silva, who will soon be 30 years old, and he tops their summer wish list. Coutinho could look for an exit if Liverpool miss the Champions League and City will start the bidding at £50 million.
Paper Round's view: Manchester City are dead set on re-building their team and doing so around young talent. We saw that in the summer when they went after Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling at all costs. An attacking midfield with those two and Coutinho for the next decade sounds magnificent, but Liverpool won't let him go easily. City will probably have to go above £50m considering the Brazilian just signed a new contract and even then, Liverpool may hold firm.
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West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino shows his frustration

Image credit: PA Photos

Spurs still want a striker - Tottenham missed out on the striker they wanted in the summer and The Telegraph claim that they're going to make another run at one in January. Despite being turned back by West Brom for Saido Berahino all August, Spurs will come back for him again. They are also tracking Laurent Depoitre, who Gent do not want to sell, but could be had for about £7m.
Paper Round's view - Spurs need help for Harry Kane. They have other players who can play at striker, but none are out-and-out strikers so Kane doesn't have the option of playing with a partner or even getting much time off. That has to change and it's why Spurs pursued Berahino all summer. It's tough to imagine them landing Berahino now considering how poor their relationship with West Brom is, but Depoitre could be a nice, if older and less flashy, addition.
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