Finally there have been some official announcements about Liverpool signings after a pre-season of much speculation.
First up is a trial for Lincoln’s young centre-back Jack Hobbs. He arrives at Melwood on Monday for a week’s trial. If he impresses Rafa Benitez and the rest of the coaching staff he’ll be offered a deal to become a Liverpool player on a permanent basis.
Hobbs has grown up at Lincoln, joining them at just nine years of age. Arsenal had also been interested in the player, but dropped out of negotiations. Liverpool’s attitude to the signing of the player has impressed Lincoln’s executive director Keith Rowe, who said: "Liverpool made their interest known 10 days ago and have conducted themselves superbly. Jack will spend a week in Liverpool from Monday with Academy coach Frank McParland and we are then expecting to complete the full transfer at the end of next week. We are delighted with the way how quickly things have been agreed with Liverpool."
Lincoln’s manager Keith Alexander is pleased for the player and hopes he gets the move to Anfield: "It looks like Jack is going to Liverpool. I don’t think he could be going to a better club. He’s been with us since the age of nine and I believe he has the talent to go all the way to the top. Liverpool will look after him and can offer him some of the best facilities around, so I think it will be a great move for him if everything works out as we hope."
The deal between the two clubs has already been agreed, subject to the trial, and includes a sell-on clause for Lincoln City.
Another move for a new player for Liverpool is underway as the Reds confirmed that they are looking to sign Albacete’s Chilean international Mark Gonzales.
Gonzales, a 20-year-old winger, is currently injured with a cruciate knee ligament injury. The idea for Liverpool is to sign him on a one-year-loan, becoming a permanent deal after that assuming all goes well with the injury. Liverpool’s spokesman Ian Cotton said: "We are in discussions with Albacete with a view to bringing the player to the club on August 1 for a season long loan. The deal is not yet finalised and would be subject to a work permit being granted."
More announcements from Anfield are expected in the coming days, with Jose Reina and Bolo Zenden being the most likely names to sign.