Liverpool have had a £34m bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez rejected, with the La Liga champions demanding more for his services.
The Lowdown: Liverpool linked with Saul move
The Reds could be in the market for a new central midfielder this summer following Gini Wijnaldum’s exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
One player who has been linked with a move to Anfield is Saul, who has been such an influential performer for Atletico down the years. The Spanish giants may be willing to let the 26-year-old leave this summer, but only for the right price.
The Latest: Reds see bid rejected
According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool’s bid of £34m has been turned down by Atletico, who deem the offer to be too low.
It remains to be seen if the Reds will come back in for a higher bid or look elsewhere for an alternative.
The Verdict: Worth another punt?
The £36m-rated Saul is a fabulous player, ticking so many of the boxes required to be a success at Liverpool. Indeed, Neil Jones told Redmen TV [via Liverpool Echo] that the midfielder has “got massive admirers” at Anfield.
At 26, he still has a good few years left in him at the top, he possesses quality on the ball – 86.7% pass completion rate in the Champions League last season, bettered by only six Reds players – and works tirelessly for the good of the team, winning 1.7 tackles per game.
For that reason, Liverpool would be wise to make a higher bid for Saul, filling their Wijnaldum-shaped void in the process.
In other news, some Liverpool fans are delighted with a rumour surrounding one Reds player. Read more here.
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