Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly both interested in securing the services of Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente this summer.
Manchester United and Liverpool are set to make a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente in the ongoing summer transfer window. That’s according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, who add both Premier League outfits are willing to spend “large amounts of money” in the region of €60 million to prise the Spanish attacker from Diego Simeone’s side.
The report adds that that kind of outlay could easily resolve much of Los Rojiblancos’ economic difficulties, as well as their ability to “invest part of that money in new signings,” with Simeone plotting a squad overhaul.
Llorente rose through the ranks at Real Madrid academy but then made a controversial decision by joining their local rivals Atleti in July 2019. The central midfielder, who can also operate at right-back, has gone on to make 150 appearances under Simeone, registering 21 goals and 23 assists in that time.
He was one of Atleti’s best players during their La Liga success in 2020–21. He played in an advanced midfield role for the Spanish giants, bagging 12 goals and 13 assists from 45 appearances.
This led to high-profile interest in him from several clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, but Atletico refused to sell back then. The Spaniard has since struggled to hit the same level of performance.
The 28-year-old registered just three goals and six assists from 69 competitive outings across the next two seasons while enduring an injury-hit campaign last time out.
Atleti chiefs view Llorente as a key player in Simeone’s project, having recently renewed his contract until 2026, but they need to improve their transfer funds with some player sales this summer and could look to cash in on the Spain international while his stock is still very relevant, with Liverpool and Manchester United both reported to be taking a keen interest in his situation.
The Red Devils, for one, are known to be huge admirers of the 28-year-old, having first targeted the midfielder in January 2020. Llorente could well be a perfect fit for the Premier League due to his physicality and versatility, but Erik ten Hag’s side have already spent £55 million on a similar player in Mason Mount, who joined from rivals Chelsea.
With funds already limited and priorities elsewhere in goalkeeper and striker, it’s highly unlikely United are going to splash out the aforementioned price on another midfielder.
Likewise, Liverpool have begun their summer transfer dealings with the impressive captures of Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Hungarian star Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig, respectively, for a combined £100 million. The duo will help replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner.
The Reds also have very able cover options in Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones, and Stefan Bajcetic, so this rumour linking them to Llorente, another box-to-box midfielder, looks to be a non-starter on paper. At 28 years old, Llorente is in the prime years of his career and still has time to hit his peak form, but for now, he seems like a one-season wonder.
