Liverpool have reached an agreement for the transfer of Giorgi Mamardashvili, subject to a work permit and international clearance – with the Valencia goalkeeper set to move to Anfield ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The Reds have secured a deal for the 23-year-old that will see him stay in Spain for the remainder of the current campaign with Los Che before switching to Merseyside next summer.

Liverpool want to make Euro 2024 winner Martin Zubimendi the first major signing of the Arne Slot era. The Reds have earmarked a move for Spain international Zubimendi as they look to bolster their defensive midfield options.

It is understood the 25-year-old has a release clause at Real Sociedad of €60million (£51.65m). Liverpool have been scouring the market for a new number six all summer, with recruiting in the position having become a priority once Slot was able to start assessing the squad he inherited after taking over from Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season.

Arne Slot has conducted his first interview as Liverpool head coach and detailed his excitement at leading the team into a new era.

The Dutchman sat down with Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday for a wide-ranging chat about the role he officially took up on June 1, having arrived after three successful seasons at Feyenoord.

Slot talked about his work since taking charge, succeeding Jürgen Klopp, and what he and his coaching staff bring to the club.

He also expressed a determination to establish a special connection with Liverpool supporters as he looks to reward them with success and a side to be proud of.

Liverpool Football Club can announce Arne Slot has agreed a deal to become the club’s new head coach, formally taking up the position on June 1, 2024, subject to a work permit.

The 45-year-old will join the Reds from Feyenoord ahead of the 2024-25 season after a deal was reached with the Eredivisie club for his services.

Slot will replace Jürgen Klopp at the helm following his decision to step down from the post at the end of the current campaign.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot has confirmed he will replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.

Klopp has been in charge of the Reds since October 2015 but is leaving at the end of the season after a reign that has seen him win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two EFL Cups.

After Klopp's announcement in January several managers were considered leading contenders, but in April BBC Sport learned that Slot was set to get the job after a compensation deal worth up to £9.4m was agreed with Feyenoord.

"I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year," Slot said on Friday.

Slot's final game at Feyenoord after three years in charge will be Sunday's Eredivisie home match with Excelsior.

Klopp's time at Liverpool ends on the same day with a home Premier League game against Wolves.

Feyenoord confirmed the 45-year-old's departure on social media, saying: "The Arne Slot era is coming to an end. Let's enjoy the last moments."

Arne Slot has said he hopes to take over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday about Slot's potential appointment.

The Dutchman confirmed his interest in the job to ESPN before Feyenoord's 3-1 league victory on Thursday against Go Ahead Eagles.

"It seems clear to me that I would like to work there," Slot said.

“All I can say about it is that the clubs are in negotiations. I’m in the waiting room."

He added that he was "confident" Liverpool and Feyenoord would be able to reach an agreement.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/10907178

So, with the Merseyside derby looming, here's a look at which Premier League referees aren't allowed to officiate the two giants.

Jarred Gillett – Queensland, Australia

A Liverpool fan who also doesn't referee Everton matches.

Rob Jones – Wirral, Merseyside

Never involved in Liverpool or Everton games.

Peter Bankes – Liverpool, Merseyside

It remains unclear who the 42-year-old supports, but he is not involved in Liverpool or Everton matches having grown up in the area.

Darren Bond – Wigan, Greater Manchester

He has also not been involved in Everton and Liverpool games despite being a Wigan Athletic supporter.

Michael Salisbury – Higher Penwortham, Lancashire

Never involved in Liverpool or Everton matches, but it remains unclear exactly who he supports.

Liverpool are set to open talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday over manager Arne Slot as they search for Jurgen Klopp's successor.

Klopp announced in January he would leave Anfield at the end of the season and the Reds have been conducting extensive research around a number of candidates.

Slot, who led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, has emerged as a candidate who fits Liverpool's criteria.

The reaction to the final whistle painted the picture of a hugely damaging week for Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp congratulated Oliver Glasner on a Crystal Palace victory that reverberates at both ends of the table before puffing out his cheeks and shaking his head in despair. Andy Robertson sank to his haunches and into a trance. Disconsolate home fans filed out in silence. In a title race with the tightest margins, Liverpool have blinked first.

Jürgen Klopp has given a ­glowing endorsement of Xabi Alonso, the frontrunner to succeed him at ­Liverpool, describing the Bayer Leverkusen coach as the “­standout” of the next generation of leading managers.

Alonso is favourite to replace the Liverpool manager this summer having taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to a five-point lead at the top in 16 months. The 42-year-old’s team are also in the German Cup semi-finals, reached the Europa League semi-finals in Alonso’s first season and comprehensively outplayed Bayern Munich in a 3-0 victory last weekend.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is to step down from the role at the end of the season.

Klopp took over as Reds boss in October 2015 and his contract was due to run until 2026.

He led Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years in 2019-20, having won the Champions League the previous season.

"I told the club already in November," the German told the Liverpool website.

Yesterday’s ruling by the European Court of Justice does not change Liverpool FC’s previous stance on a proposed European Super League. Our involvement has been discontinued.

We will continue to work with fellow clubs through the ECA and participate in UEFA competitions.

The upper tier will remain closed until 2024 and there is no revised date on when it will open.

Referees' body PGMOL has admitted the decision to disallow Luis Diaz's goal in nine-man Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur was "a significant human error".

At 0-0 and with the Reds a man down, Liverpool winger Diaz's goal was ruled out following an unusually quick video assistant referee (VAR) check by Darren England, in which the customary offside line graphic was not shown.

"PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred," the statement read. "PGMOL will conduct a full review."

Jurgen Klopp calls his remodelled Reds team 'Liverpool 2.0', but watching them is a reminder of what his best Anfield sides have always been like.

Liverpool definitely needed some freshening up over the summer, because last season I'm not sure some of their players had the legs to play the way Klopp wanted them to.

The front three were still pressing, but the midfield could not get up the pitch to back them up. Teams were playing through them, and causing them lots of problems.

It's different now, and what we are seeing is more like the kind of 'heavy metal' football we saw when Klopp won the Champions League and Premier League.

Liverpool are pressing all over the pitch again and having a younger, fitter and stronger midfield has been massive in that.

The 21-year-old Netherlands international has joined the Reds on a five-year contract.

Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer from the Saudi Pro League to sign Mohamed Salah.

The proposal, worth in excess of £100million plus substantial add-ons, was given no consideration and turned down immediately.

It was an approach made on behalf of Al Ittihad during an amicable call to Liverpool director Mike Gordon on Thursday night.

The Anfield club, however, reiterated the 31-year-old is not for sale and consider the case closed.

That view is not shared by the Saudis, though, who are expected to maintain a strong interest.

Ryan Gravenberch is due to fly into Merseyside this Thursday evening after Liverpool finally made a breakthrough in their summer-long attempt to sign the Holland star.

The Reds agreed a fee thought to be in the region of £35m, including additional bonus-related payments, for the Bayern Munich midfielder, after a protracted transfer saga where they had three separate approaches for the 21-year-old rejected over the course of the summer window.

If all goes to plan, Gravenberch is due to undergo a medical at a Liverpool medical facility on Friday, before completing a deal, where he is expected to sign a five-year contract.

Central defenders? We don't need no stinkin' central defenders.

Liverpool have signed midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for a fee of around 19m euros (£16.2m), subject to a work permit and international clearance.

The 30-year-old Japan international has agreed a four-year contract.

Jordan Henderson was seen as an LGBT+ ally when speaking out on injustices and advocating inclusion as Liverpool captain wearing a rainbow armband.

"I do believe when you see something that is clearly wrong and makes another human being feel excluded you should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them," the Premier League and Champions League winner wrote in Liverpool match day programme notes in 2021.

It's a stance that seems conflicted to Liverpool LGBT+ fans' group Kop Outs as it urged him not to move to Saudi Arabia, saying they were appalled by the planned transfer.

"He was portraying himself as aligned with respect for women and LGBT+ rights," said Kop Outs founder Paul Amann.

"That has been severely tarnished by looking to jump ship to a regime that has none of those values at its core.