Liverpool have been dealt with a fresh blow in their pursuit of Arnaut Danjuma, who is unlikely to be sold by Villarreal in January.
According to Football Insider, Villarreal are set to battle it out to keep hold of Arnaut Danjuma in the summer. The 24-year-old Dutch attacker has emerged as one of the in-demand players in the market following his blazing performances in La Liga and Champions League, putting top clubs including Liverpool on red alert.
However, Villarreal have no intention of cashing on Danjuma in the upcoming January transfer window despite the fact that the attacker’s value has doubled since his £21 million move to Spain this summer.
It could serve as a massive blow for Liverpool, who have been scouting the forward since his Bournemouth days. The Reds missed out on the 24-year-old in the summer as he opted to join Europa League champions Villarreal in order to stand a greater chance of gaining regular first-team minutes.
With seven goals and two assists in just 15 competitive matches, it is fair to say that the Dutchman has hit the ground running at his new club. He has made an impression in the Champions League, in particular, having been involved in three goals in four matches so far.
Danjuma was targeted by Liverpool primarily as an alternative for Sadio Mane. The Senegalese international has improved from his dreadful season last term, but the club could certainly use an additional backup. More importantly, both Mane and Mohamed Salah are set to be unavailable during the start of 2022 due to Africa Cup of Natins.
It has made it imperative for Liverpool to invest in a new winger who can momentarily replace the two explosive forwards. Danjuma might have been an ideal option, but with Villarreal unwilling to part ways with the Dutch attacker, the Reds need to look elsewhere.
Fortunately for them, there are no short of alternatives in the market. The Merseyside giants are already competing against Manchester City for the pursuit of Colombia’s rising star Luis Diaz while they may also enter the race to sign RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo, who is a target for FC Barcelona as well.
Speaking of Barcelona, their struggling winger Ousmane Dembele has emerged as a subject of interest for Liverpool. The Reds themselves are reportedly prepared to offer him a bumper deal to lure him to Anfield, though the move might entirely depend on the long-term future of Salah.
