Liverpool will have to fork out €50 million in order to secure the services of Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez, with Barcelona also involved in the chase.
A report from Mundo Deportivo has offered a negative update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Saul Niguez. The Premier League giants’ €40 million bid was well-documented among the English media spheres. But Atletico Madrid are said to be holding out for a fee of at least €50 million.
However, a bigger problem for Liverpool is the emergence of Barcelona into the picture. The same report claims that the Catalans are readying an eye-catching swap deal that should see Antoine Griezmann returning to Atletico Madrid in favour of Saul heading to Camp Nou in the summer.
The deal unsurprisingly appeals to Diego Simeone, who is desperate to have Griezmann back after two disappointing seasons at Barcelona. Not to mention, the Catalan giants already have a stacked attacking unit, especially after the arrival of Memphis Depay earlier this summer.
In contrast, Atletico Madrid have appeared keen for reinforcements in the attacking unit. They are already among the clubs eyeing a summer swoop for Lorenzo Insigne, even though Los Colchoneros might face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur.
As for Liverpool, Barcelona’s entry in Saul’s chase might see them miss out on yet another midfield target. It does not bode well for Jurgen Klopp, who is determined to sign a quality midfielder who can fill in the shoes of Georginio Wijnaldum for the new season.
The Reds have been highly linked with a move for Renato Sanches in the summer. But those links have died down recently, well Liverpool instead of focusing on Saul due to his vast experience at the highest level of football.
A product of the Atletico Madrid youth academy, the Spaniard was considered as one of Spain’s most gifted players prior to his injuries and a recent decline. He has been quite inconsistent for Atletico Madrid, eventually falling behind Marcos Llorente and Thomas Lemar in the pecking order this past season.
However, that does not deter Liverpool, with Klopp keen on signing a midfielder who fits his style. Not to mention, Saul offers excellent versatility for the Liverpool boss even though he is usually not a fan of making too many chops and changes in the starting lineup. But with Barcelona ready to jump in, the Merseyside giants may have to shift their attention elsewhere.
Fortunately for Liverpool, the market is full of talented midfielders this summer, with the club recently being linked with a move for Marseille’s rising star Boubacar Kamara. What now remains to be seen is if Liverpool end up meeting the €50 million valuation imposed by Atletico Madrid or if they are beaten by Barcelona’s attractive swap offer.
