Torino have reportedly turned down a €30 million bid from Liverpool for Perr Schuurs but expect the Reds to return with an improved offer.
Liverpool are reportedly amongst the suitors who have failed with bids for Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs. That is according to Tuttosport, who say Torino have rejected an opening offer worth €30 million from the Merseyside giants for the 23-year-old Dutch centre-back, who is valued at €40 million by the Serie A outfit.
After completing the high-profile deals Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig, respectively, for combined transfer fees of over €100 million, Liverpool have reportedly turned their attention towards signing a central defender.
The futures of Joel Matip, Nat Phillips, and Joe Gomez are up in the air, and Jurgen Klopp would surely be eager to add some defensive solidity to his team, an area in which Liverpool looked frail last season. As such, they have their eye on several defenders, namely Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio and Micky van de Ven.
Another familiar name that has now popped up on the Reds rumour mill is Perr Schuurs, who has been on their radar for a while now. Actually, Schuurs underwent a trial at Anfield as a 17-year-old youngster. But the club opted to let him continue his progress in the Netherlands. Now, they seem to think he has matured into a defender ideal for Klopp’s system.
An impressive reader of the game, a potential attacking threat, and comfortable on the ball, the Dutchman racked up 95 appearances and won six trophies with Ajax before completing a €9 million move to Serie A last summer.
Since arriving in Turin, his stock has only risen off the back of a strong campaign in which he made 33 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with one goal and two assists. Schuurs has now emerged as a transfer target for several top European clubs, including Napoli and Liverpool, both of whom have had significant bids rejected for the defender in recent days.
The Dutchman still has another three years to run on his contract, which includes an option to extend by a further 12 months. So Torino are likely to relent given their strong negotiating position and would only consider selling the centre-back if they receive a fee of around €40 million for him.
The report adds that Jurgen Klopp is a long-term admirer of the Dutchman’s talent, having already tried to sign him from Ajax. The Liverpool boss could push for his signing this summer, which is why Torino are bracing themselves for an improved Liverpool bid closer to their asking price.
Also Read: Three Ways Liverpool Can Line Up With Dominik Szoboszlai
It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool decide to go ahead with Torino’s pricing for Schuurs. But it appears they are prioritising defenders before making any more additions in midfield amid Romeo Lavia and Khephren Thuram links.
