Leeds turn to German
LEEDS have moved for Germany star Robin Koch after hitting a brick wall in their bid to bring Ben White back to Elland Road.
They switched their attention to Koch (above) because Brighton insist White is not for sale.
Koch, 24, is the kind of ball-playing centre-half manager Marcelo Bielsa likes and is leaving Freiburg because he is out of contract next June and refuses to sign a new deal.
Freiburg want £10million for him.
Leeds are also mulling over a second bid for Rangers’ winger Ryan Kent after Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard dismissed their £10m offer.
THIAGO SILVA will sign off for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final tomorrow, with Chelsea ready to swoop.
The Blues are in talks with PSG defender Silva, 35, who has also been offered a two-year deal by Serie A club Fiorentina.
Boss Frank Lampard is concerned that Chelsea conceded 54 goals in the league last season, and is also chasing Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and West Ham’s Declan Rice.
Liverpool will be exempt from the rule, which came into force this morning, that people returning to the UK from Austria must selfisolate for 14 days.
Klopp and his squad have been given special dispensation by the FA because they are classed as elite athletes and they have been in their own bubble since arriving in the Alps a week ago.
The Liverpool boss is delighted the Reds can play friendlies against Stuttgart today and Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday before returning to England for next Saturday’s Community Shield against Arsenal.
“We are in our own bubble, we do nothing to put anybody in danger, and we focus on football,” said Klopp. “In four or five days we will be back in England and we will finish preparations to play our first important game against Arsenal.”
One player missing from that clash will be former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (circle), who suffered a knee injury during training that could keep him out for the start of the new season.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Klopp said. “It’s pretty similar to what Jordan Henderson had. He’ll miss pre-season and the Arsenal game for sure, and then we’ll see.” Klopp, who has been putting his champions through double training sessions most days, has allowed them to enjoy bike rides against the breathtaking backdrop of the Austrian mountainside. “We found this hotel here and they have done an incredible job,” said the German, whose side take on new boys Leeds in their Premier League opener at Anfield.
“We’ve trained, apart from two days, twice every day, which makes it intense. A training camp is very important to focus on preparation. We train a lot, speak a lot, eat the right things, and sleep enough.”