Liverpool are reportedly set to battle Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan to sign Luis Muriel from Sampdoria in the summer.
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Liverpool have entered the race to sign Luis Muriel from Sampdoria. The Reds are now set to battle Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan in the summer to secure the services of the Colombian striker.
Muriel joined Sampdoria from Udinese in 2015, and after several injuries during his time with his previous club, he is finally starting to deliver on his talent. The 25-year-old has managed to steer clear of the injuries since moving to the Genoa club and has, as a result, made rapid strides.
2016/17 has been his most fruitful campaign in Italy since 2012/13, scoring 12 goals while providing 9 assists in 31 matches in all competitions, and he is well on course to enjoy his best season in the Serie A.
With Muriel’s career in Italy finally taking off, he seems to have captured the attention of several clubs across Europe. Chelsea were heavily linked with the Colombian international for a long time, with reports claiming that the Blues were considering a summer move for him.
Their interest in Muriel has since cooled off, but the likes of Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan have registered an interest in him, with Liverpool the latest club to enter the fray for him.
Atletico Madrid are identifying suitable attacking targets for the summer, with the future of Antoine Griezmann up in the air. Should the Frenchman move away from the Vicente Calderon in the summer, Muriel could be a viable option for Diego Simeone to consider.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan owners, the Suning Group are eager to herald a new era this summer, by overhauling an underachieving squad. As a result, they are believed to be eyeing several recruitments before the transfer window opens, and have already opened talks with Muriel’s camp.
But, Liverpool are set to provide competition to Atletico and Inter, as they have identified Muriel as a suitable target to add firepower in their attack. Indeed, bringing in reinforcements in attack is a top priority for the Reds, with Klopp and the club heavily criticised for his failure to add depth in the January transfer window.
Liverpool are currently heavily reliant on the forms of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, and their results took a heavy tumble when Mane left for the African Cup of Nations as the Brazilian duo battled poor form.
Thus, Muriel presents himself as a viable target, and even though he may not be highly prolific as suggested by his numbers, he provides a lot of creativity that is seldom seen in top strikers. Additionally, his ability to play in different attacking positions also make him an asset.
The report states that a fee of €23 million could be enough to secure the services of Muriel, and it remains to be seen if Liverpool can trump Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan to secure his services come June.
