Liverpool meeting over £60m-rated midfielder a success, as two journalists hint at late-window fireworks
RB Leipzig stars Dominik Szoboszlai and Benjamin Henrichs
A Liverpool meeting involving a £60m-rated midfielder known for two key traits went ‘positively’, and a pair of journalists have hinted at late-window fireworks.
All eyes are on who Jurgen Klopp signs to complete Liverpool’s much-anticipated midfield revamp. Alexis Mac Allister has been banked to the tune of £35m. However, with Arthur Melo, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Leighton Clarkson all departing, two further additions are expected.
The Athletic’s James Pearce listed Gabri Veiga, Ryan Gravenberch, Manu Kone, Khephren Thuram and Romeo Lavia as being on Liverpool’s watchlist.
Elsewhere, Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy insisted Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella is a target. The latest from the Italian media on Thursday claimed a ‘concrete’ move for the midfield dynamo is coming.
Another in Liverpool’s sights – according to the ultra-reliable David Ornstein – is Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Hungary ace, 22, plies his trade at club level with RB Leipzig who hold a sizeable release clause in his contract.
Szoboszlai can be signed for €70m if the clause is triggered on June 30 or before. If a club lodges an official bid after that date, the clause is no longer valid until it becomes active again in the next January window.
As such, speculation had begun to swirl Liverpool could move imminently for Szoboszlai. Two journalists have quashed such murmurings, though they have suggested a move after the June 30 soft deadline is both possible and plausible.
Indeed, Sky’s Melissa Reddy gave her take on Szoboszlai to Liverpool, declaring the Monday meeting between the Reds and the player’s camp to have gone “positively”.
Szoboszlai is now a confirmed target for Liverpool who are smitten by his ‘chance creation metrics and ball-carrying ability’. Indeed, those two traits are described as fitting the profile Liverpool crave.
However, Reddy was keen to stress Liverpool are taking their time with their midfield revamp given the importance of getting it right. As such, an imminent move while the release clause remains active does not sound likely.
That is a view shared by Sky Germany reporter, Phillip Hinze. He tweeted Leipzig have not received any official bids from either Liverpool or Newcastle who are also a confirmed admirer of Szoboszlai.
Hinze added a transfer after June 30 is ‘not completely off the table’, though waiting until after that date would put the power in Leipzig’s hands.
A move post-June 30 would free Leipzig from the shackles of the release clause, thus allowing them to drive up the price. That won’t be welcome news for Liverpool, though they have been willing to spend big on players they deemed perfect fits in the past.
The Reds spent £65m-plus on the likes of Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez in the Klopp era.
Alisson and Van Dijk have gone on to become modern-day Liverpool legends, while the jury is still out on Nunez.
Szoboszlai could conceivably be added to that list if Liverpool act on their interest. However, if they do, it’s likely to be later in the window.
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