MX23RW : Monday, February 17 14:01:15| >> :120:3959:3959:

Liverpool announce first January transfer as significant sell-on clause revealed

The 40% man: Liverpool confirm first transfer of January window
© Imago
Liverpool confirm their first transfer of the January window, as 22-year-old goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga returns to Fluminense on a permanent deal.

Liverpool have confirmed that 22-year-old goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga has left the club to rejoin Brazilian outfit Fluminense on a permanent deal.

The 2002-born shot-stopper came through the Fluminense youth system before joining Liverpool in a €750k (£623k) deal in 2020, quickly becoming a regular for the Reds' Under-21s.

Pitaluga made the bench on a handful of occasions for the first team - most recently their 2-1 Europa League loss to Union SG in December 2023 - but he never made a senior appearance for the Merseyside giants.

The 22-year-old was loaned out three times to Macclesfield Town, St Pat's and Livingston, joining the Scottish side in the summer transfer window, but he only made two appearances for the Lions.

With Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jaros currently blocking his path to the first team - as well as the imminent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia - Pitaluga has now returned to Fluminense on a free transfer, although James Pearce of The Athletic claims that the Reds will retain a hefty 40% sell-on clause.

"Goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga has agreed a permanent transfer from Liverpool to former club Fluminense, subject to international clearance," Liverpool said in a statement.

"The Brazilian is set to bid farewell to the Reds after a spell of more than four years, in which he was named in the senior matchday squad on seven occasions. Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future."

Could Liverpool let any other players leave this month?

Liverpool's Arne Slot and Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured on January 5, 2025© Imago

Pitaluga is the first but possibly not the last out of the Anfield door this month, as Liverpool are still at risk of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk on free transfers at the end of the season.

Offers for Van Dijk and Salah have not been forthcoming, but Real Madrid are now said to have made their first approach for Alexander-Arnold, which was immediately rejected by Liverpool as they try to tie him down to a new deal.

Alexander-Arnold responded to Real Madrid's supposed first bid with a disappointing display in Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United, albeit one that is not expected to deter Los Blancos from making another move.

Carlo Ancelotti's side will likely be met with the cold shoulder again, but if it becomes clear that Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new contract, it will be intriguing to see whether Liverpool try to recoup a fee this month or allow a player in his prime to leave for free.

The Reds have welcomed a potential Alexander-Arnold successor back to the club this month in Calvin Ramsay, whose loan spell from Wigan Athletic was cut short, but he is expected to be sent elsewhere for another temporary spell away from the club.

Further up the field, out-of-favour attacker Federico Chiesa is being heavily linked with a loan return to Serie A, although his agent has since shot down rumours that he could leave Liverpool this month.

ID:562177:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6137:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Click here for more stories about Marcelo Pitaluga

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister pictured on September 17, 2024
Read Next:
How could a Liverpool coach help star seal shock 2025 transfer?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool25186160243660
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs25931349371230
13Crystal Palace257992932-330
14Everton257992731-430
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd2585122835-729
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2554163554-1919
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!