Liverpool news: Club chiefs jet out on £50m scouting mission as talks set for January switch

· Mirror

Liverpool may have fallen short in their recruitment efforts over the summer but will reportedly be busy in January as a string of potential deals emerge

Andoni Iraola is beginning to leave his mark as Liverpool manager after piecing together three straight wins for the first time at Anfield. However, the Reds look set to continue their evolution in January as several major deals start to gather traction.

Sunday's clash against Brighton will be a fierce test of just how well things are truly going under Iraola's command. The Seagulls have soared up to third in the Premier League table, two places above Liverpool, after enjoying the fruits of their own transfer labour.

Ahead of a hectic week that also comprises an EFL Cup showdown with Chelsea, the transfer rumour mill remains hard at work. Mirror Football has dissected the latest transfer headlines around Anfield heading into a key weekend clash.

Reds scout £50m gem

Liverpool are reportedly escalating their interest in Valencia winger David Otorbi and have had scouts in attendance to watch the youngster. Their interest comes amid reports the 19-year-old will soon see his price-tag double after impressing this term.

Otorbi put pen to paper on a two-year contract back in April, complete with a £25million release clause and the option of another three-year extension. Reports in Spain now suggest Los Che are on the verge of triggering that option, which would also increase the forward's release clause valuation to £50m.

It would mean Valencia will have the bargaining security to demand that entire fee for his signature. Although Rio Ngumoha has started to show extreme promise as Liverpool's new star on the right wing, more competition for the role wouldn't go astray.

Liverpool have had scouts in attendance at Valencia games to monitor the progress of Harvey Elliott during his loan. However, they may have identified another fine prospect in the process, one Valencia appear eager to keep out of the clutches of English suitors.

As part of keeping tabs on Elliott, Liverpool are also reported to have met with Valencia manager Javier Aguirre and sporting director Braulio Vazquez to discuss the matter. However, it's plausible exploratory talks have also taken place regarding Otorbi's future and whether there's a place for him at Anfield.

Agents meet over Ndukwe solution

Ifeanyi Ndukwe's stellar start to life in Spain could be set to earn him an Anfield lifeline sooner than expected. In fact, the player's agents are due for talks with his parent club about potentially ending his loan spell at Levante early, according to reports.

After a super pre-season, Ifeanyi was farmed out due to the fact he couldn't obtain a UK work permit and Liverpool had already used up their quota of non-eligible players. He's since started pulling up trees in La Liga and established himself as an increasingly prominent member of Levante's starting XI.

Sky Sports Austria has reported the Reds will discuss the matter with Ndukwe's representatives this weekend. After shining in La Liga, the 18-year-old has accumulated enough points necessary to obtain the proper work permit and is eligible to play in England.

Despite the recent rise in results at Anfield, defensive solidity remains an area of concern for Liverpool. In that sense, another option at centre-back wouldn't go astray, especially after loanee Ronald Araujo has impressed while playing on the right side of defence.

Rave reviews in Spain suggest Ndukwe could soon outgrow Levante, who will not be keen on the idea of losing the player. However, Liverpool could execute a masterstroke after including a clause in his contract to recall the player this winter.

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