Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign Spanish international Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid, who is also a target for Manchester United.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, the race to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez continues to heat up as Premier League bigwigs Liverpool have joined arch-rivals Manchester United in pursuit of the Spanish international.
Saul came through the youth ranks at Atletico Madrid and has been an ever-present in the starting XI since 2014, following a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano. Till date, the 26-year-old has racked up 337 appearances for Los Rojiblancos, scoring 43 goals and setting up 19 more. The midfielder also has 19 caps for the Spanish national team, netting three times.
However, Saul saw his game-time somewhat reduce this past season as he started just 22 times in Atletico Madrid’s successful La Liga campaign. And, heading into the summer transfer window, both the club and the midfielder are understood to have decided to part ways, sparking a flurry of interest in his services.
The likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are among the clubs keen on Saul but it is Manchester United that have been the most strongly linked with a move for the Spaniard. The Red Devils could be in need of a new central midfielder this summer as Paul Pogba enters the final year of his contract with the club while Nemanja Matic is not getting any younger and needs to be phased out as well.
Saul, given his adaptability to play in a multitude of roles in the middle of the park, would thus be an ideal signing for Manchester United. However, they are now set to face competition from bitter rivals Liverpool in pursuit of the Spanish international. Like United, the Merseyside giants also require reinforcements in the middle of the park before the next season kicks off.
Indeed, Jurgen Klopp & co. lost Georginio Wijnaldun, who completed a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week. Throw in the uncertain futures surrounding Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, coupled with the advancing age of James Milner, and it is not hard to understand why Liverpool are looking for a new midfielder this summer.
Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans has emerged as a transfer target for the Reds while they have their eyes on AS Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini as well. However, it seems like Liverpool are keeping their options open with Saul also now emerging as an option for the summer. It now remains to be seen whether they are able to able to beat Manchester United and the other interested parties to capture the signing of the 26-year-old.
