Liverpool bid for £39m right-back: Club green signal for Richard Hughes — report
• Liverpool set for upgrade at right-back as Champions League spot hard-fought • Soboslai and Curtis Jones cover with injuries to Connor Bradley and Jeremy Frimpong • La Gazzetta dello Sport: Marco Palestra is open to England's top clubs, including Liverpool; Atalanta is ready for sale at the right price • With Denzel Dumpreies option missing, focus on Palestra in £39m range
Liverpool's Champions League qualification has been hard-earned in the last few days this season. International reports indicate that the Anfield team, which failed to perform at the expected level in the title race, suffered from many reasons such as management upheaval, series of injuries and lack of unity in the team.
It is in this context that transfer talks around Anfield have heated up ahead of the summer transfer window. Richard Hughes, who heads the sporting department, has been given the green signal to move forward with the club's top target, according to the latest reports.
Mainly the right-back position has become a headache for Liverpool in 2025–26. Both Connor Bradley and Jeremy Frimpong, the main options at the beginning of the season, missed several matches with injuries. Despite being fit, Frimpong was not often used at right-back, with Dominik Soboslai being replaced by Curtis Jones on a temporary basis — clearly not the right solution. That's why Liverpool are being linked with several right-backs this summer.
According to Italian magazine La Gazzetta dello Sport, 21-year-old Marco Palestra (young defender from Atalanta) has also added Liverpool to his list of clubs interested. "Apart from Inter, top clubs in England — Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City — as well as Real Madrid in Spain are also interested in the Palestra," the report said. Atalanta, though not necessarily selling for money, is ready to let him go if the right offer comes in and has already identified a replacement, the same source said.
On loan to Cagliari last season, Palestra made 37 appearances and directly contributed to five goals. Scouting notes say his tenacity in one-on-one defending is particularly impressive. Considering Bradley's injury history and the fact that Frimpong is unlikely to be used regularly as a right-back, Palestra could be expected to force his way straight into the starting XI at Liverpool.
As far as fees are concerned, foreign reports estimate his value to be in the £39 million range. The Anfield club's options have also been limited, with Denzel Dumpreies' deal falling through as another mooted replacement.
This season has made it clear that Liverpool's squad needs upgrading in several positions. If the team is to get back on top under new coach Antony Iraola, the right transfers are a must. Could Palestra be the perfect answer to that write-back puzzle? The Anfield faithful's focus is now on the summer window.