Barcelona and Liverpool are reportedly looking to hijack Borussia Dortmund’s deal to sign Red Bull Salzburg attacker Karim Adeyemi.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently offered an update on the future of Karim Adeyemi. The Red Bull Salzburg forward is expected to leave the club at the end of the season as he looks to take the next step in his career.
Borussia Dortmund are believed to be in the driver’s seat in the race to sign Adeyemi. But they are yet to reach an agreement with Salzburg regarding the transfer fee. It has prompted Liverpool and Barcelona to make a fresh approach, as they look hijack any potential deal.
Liverpool, in particular, have been monitoring the progress of Adeyemi for a while now. Their manager Jurgen Klopp remains a huge fan of the German prodigy, who has made a lot of waves in Austrian football over the last 18 months.
A centre forward by trade, the 19-year-old has caught the eye with his speed and versatility, as he can operate even in wider areas of the pitch. At the same time, the youngster is quite prolific going forward, having netted 28 goals in 78 competitive matches for Salzburg. Fourteen of those goals have come in the 19 league matches in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, making him one of the in-demand players in the market.
Liverpool’s interest in Adeyemi is hardly surprising as they brace themselves for the departure of Divock Origi. The Belgian has been linked with a January exit to AC Milan, but perhaps more importantly, Klopp is keen to secure an upgrade over Roberto Firmino, who has struggled with injury for most of the season so far.
Barcelona, too, are attracted by Adeyemi’s dynamic style of play, coupled with the exceptional technical prowess that allows him to link up with teammates in the final third. It could make him an excellent competitor for Memphis Depay, who is facing an uncertain future under Xavi, especially amid interest from Newcastle United.
However, Borussia Dortmund remain the undisputed favourite in the race to sign Karim Adeyemi. The 19-year-old German international favours moving to the Bundesliga to further enhance himself as a forward. It has given Dortmund the upper hand, with the Black and Yellows even closing on reaching an agreement over personal terms.
The forward is expected to join the Dortmund camp at the start of next summer, most likely as a direct replacement for Erling Haaland. The tall Norwegian is destined to pack his bags, with Barcelona, among many other top clubs across Europe, interested in his services.
