Liverpool 'rejects offers' for five players with improved bids expected before window shuts

Liverpool has reportedly rejected transfer offers for five players this summer as the Reds battle to keep hold of a number of first-team stars.

Arne Slot is yet to sign a single player since his arrival on Merseyside and is now faced with the very real possibility of seeing squad numbers drop before they rise. The Reds have a number of first-team players vying for regular minutes, yet those who are on the fringes of the starting XI are now being targeted.

Liverpool has already laughed off offers for Wataru Endo and Sepp van den Berg from Marseille and PSV Eindhoven, respectively, while at least two bids have recently been rejected for Fabio Carvalho from Southampton .

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Now, however, a couple of other first-team stars have been the subject of bidding wars ahead of the final few weeks of the transfer window, with clubs keen to wrap up some late business before their respective campaigns kick off later this month.

As reported by Football Insider , the Reds have also rejected transfer offers for defender Nat Phillips and teenage midfielder Bobby Clark . It's claimed that, along with Endo, Van den Berg and Carvalho , the bids were turned down because they did not meet Liverpool’s valuations of the first-team stars.

However, the quintet could all still depart Anfield before the August 30 cut-off date if Liverpool deem any future offers acceptable. The report adds that Phillips and Carvalho are both likely to leave the Reds on permanent deals in this window, according to sources.

Phillips hasn't made a first-team appearance for Liverpool since January 2023 and spent last season out on loan at Celtic and Cardiff City, making a combined 26 appearances for both sides. With Virgil van Dijk , Ibrahima Konate , Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah ahead of him, his Reds career is all but over.

As for Carvalho, however, things are slightly more complicated. The 21-year-old wants guaranteed game time this season and is prepared to look elsewhere if needs must, but his impressive pre-season for the Reds has caught the eye of new boss Slot, having scored twice in three games.

However, Southampton manager Russell Martin has confirmed that contact has been made with Liverpool and Carvalho over a potential move after having a recent bid rejected by the Reds . According to The Athletic , Liverpool has no interest in sanctioning another loan move for Carvalho and would prefer to move him on permanently - but only for the right price.

The report also claims that Clark would only leave Anfield on a loan deal this summer. The 19-year-old made 12 appearances under Klopp last season and the club is keen to retain him on its books, so a temporary move to aid his development appears the most likely outcome.

Dutch defender Van den Berg has also been strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer but Liverpool will not sell for less than $21.6million (£16.8million/€20million), having already rejected an offer of half that sum from Eredivisie champions PSV .

However, Slot is considering making a surprise transfer U-turn on the 22-year-old and could be expected to keep him at Anfield unless a suitable replacement is identified. The same can also be said for Japanese midfielder Endo, who Liverpool rejected a bid of around $15.2m (£11.8m/€14m) for from Marseille earlier this summer, with the Reds not actively looking to sell the 31-year-old as things stand.