Kostas Tsimikas Liverpool transfer, how £11.75m deal was agreed and what happens nextLiverpool are close to the signing of Olympiacos left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas after agreeing a £11.75m deal and pulling out of talks with Norwich over Jamal Lewis
Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Konstantinos Tsimikas after agreeing an £11.75m deal with Olympiacos, but are yet to discuss personal terms with the player.
The Reds had made a bid for Norwich City defender Jamal Lewis earlier this week, but were unwilling to match the Canaries’ £20m asking-price for the Northern Ireland international.
And after failing to reach a compromise with the recently-relegated side, Jurgen Klopp ’s side have moved for one of their alternative targets as they look to land a new left-back as cover for Andy Robertson.
The ECHO understands that Tsimikas is due to discuss terms and the 24-year-old could conduct a medical with the club at the start of next week if an agreement is met ahead of the Reds’ return for pre-season training next weekend.
It’s understood that the Reds were aware that Norwich were always unlikely to lower their asking-price for Lewis despite his desire to move to Anfield, with the defender one of a number of four options sporting director Michael Edwards has been looking at as a result alongside Tsimikas.
Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon and AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly were also considered before the club decided to bid for the Greek. Having seen a £10m offer with a sell-on clause for Lewis rejected,
a £12m proposal was also disregarded by Norwich which prompted the Reds to end negotiations believing there to be better value signings available elsewhere on the overseas market, as demonstrated by local-rivals Everton’s signing of Lucas Digne from Barcelona for £17m two years ago.
Klopp had been keen to land the player with him passing all of the club’s checks, but the Canaries insistence on wanting £20m for his services ensured a deal would not be possible with Liverpool’s decision to walk away purely a financial one.
After also ruling out a move for Kelly, the Reds then opted to pursue a move for Tsimikas ahead of Reguilon.
Seen as a cheaper alternative to Lewis, the Greek has been on the Reds’ radar for some time with club bosses believing viewing the move to be a superior deal for the club, especially considering his significantly lower price.
He previously spent time on loan in the Danish Superliga and Eredivisie with Esbjerg and Willem II respectively, playing alongside former Red Pedro Chirivella at the latter in 2017/18 when he came to the attention of club scouts. Capped three times by Greece, he made 46 appearances for Olympiacos this season, claiming seven assists, and was a member of the side that face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League group-stages and exited the Europa League at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday night.
And with the Greek side’s European commitments now over, Liverpool have wasted no time in making their move to secure his services for the new season.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kostas-tsimikas-liverpool-transfer-how-18742067
