EJARIA OUT TO PROVE WORTH TO LIVERPOOL
New Rangers recruit Ovie Ejaria hopes to use his Ibrox loan switch as a springboard to the Liverpool first-team.
Boss Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool links have paid off after he clinched a yearlong loan swoop for the midfielder, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland.
The 20-year-old, who helped England win the Under-20 World Cup last year, has agreed to the move after penning a new “longterm” contract at Anfield.
And the England youth international hopes to use his time in Glasgow to prove to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp that he is ready to become a Premier League star.
“It’s a really great feeling,” he told lfc.com. “I’ve been at Liverpool for four years now and I’m just really happy to extend my stay here.
“It’s a massive club, the club’s doing really well at the moment, so it wasn’t a hard decision at all.
“I’m just going to keep working hard and see where that takes me. I really want to be a regular at Liverpool Football Club, a massive club, so that’s my aim.”
Ejaria, who made 11 appearances in an injuryhit loan stay at Sunderland, becomes Rangers’ fourth summer signing, following moves for Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor plus a permanent deal for former loan recruit Jamie Murphy.
Gerrard hopes to complete a move for Brighton defender Connor Goldson in the coming days as he bids to improve on last season’s third-placed Scottish Premiership finish.
Gerrard’s first game as manager will be a Europa League qualifier on July 12.
Liverpool hope to finalise a deal for Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir in the next 48 hours.
It is understood that the club have held positive discussions with the Ligue 1 side and while a fee has not been agreed the France international’s move is edging closer.
Manager Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards are keen to get the deal done before France head to Russia – as is national team boss Didier Deschamps – so the next couple of days are critical as the clock ticks down.
Liverpool expect to pay an initial £48.4million plus £4.4million in add-ons.
The Reds are wasting no time with their summer recruitment plans with Monaco midfielder Fabinho already signed for £43.7m.
With Naby Keita arriving from RB Leipzig after a deal was done last summer, Klopp is already a long way down the road of strengthening a squad which started to feel the effects of injuries on their run to the Champions League final.
Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri remains a player of interest due to his low buy-out clause of £12m while Roma keeper Alisson is also on the radar.