Fabrizio Romano says Atletico Madrid are ‘pushing to sign Rodrigo de Paul’ and with Saul heavily linked with an exit from the Wanda Metropolitano, Liverpool and Manchester United are set to go head to head to sign him.
Liverpool are in the market for a new midfielder and Saul is a really interesting name that has been linked with the Reds.
The Spaniard will not be at the EUROs this summer but he is coming off the back of a title-winning season with Atletico Madrid and could be a brilliant like for like replacement for Gini Wijnaldum.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Gini Wijnaldum of Liverpool and Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The conservative, press-resistant role that Jurgen Klopp had the Dutchman operating in is a role that Saul could excel in and although he isn’t as press resistant, he is a super ball-winner with great passing.
What are the reports?
At the start of June, El Gol Digital claimed that Manchester United are prepared to offer as much as €80million (£68.8m) for Saul and while there has been no more news of an offer from the Mancunians, there is an interesting development.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that Atletico Madrid are “pushing to sign Rodrigo de Paul as main target” and he could be Diego Simeone’s replacement for Saul and if that’s the case, Liverpool and Manchester United will be on red alert.
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 12: Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 12, 2021 in Madrid Spain. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
As we covered on the weekend, Atletico are happy to let the midfielder go for around £69m but he won’t join any old side.
Crucially, Mundo Deportivo says that Saul will only consider joining a club with “a very interesting project” which makes Klopp’s Liverpool favourites, for me.
The German has more pull than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and after United just lost to Villarreal in the Europa League, Liverpool will be the more appealing side to Saul given they won the Champions League and Premier League recently.
Fortunately, I haven’t seen Manchester City linked with a move for Saul as he would be unstoppable for Pep Guardiola and they’re the only other English side that cannot outshine Liverpool’s recent achievements.
Why would Saul be a good fit for Liverpool?
As I said, he would naturally take up the Wijnaldum role and although I’m not sure how Klopp will line his side up next season when Jordan Henderson returns to full fitness, Saul would add so much quality.
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 14: Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna at Wanda Metropolitano on December 14, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
He’s not a goalscorer or a gifted dribbler but he wins so many tackles and is very quick in moving the ball on which suits Liverpool down to a tee. The Reds base their game on a high press and after winning the ball back, they look to score as quickly as possible.
Klopp famously said in 2016: “Counter-pressing makes exactly the same [influence as a playmaker]. No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation.”
Saul would be able to further increase Liverpool’s ability to create chances from nothing by stealing the ball in dangerous areas before giving it to the front three as quickly as possible.
