According to Moby Haque, Fernando Torres has spoken to Saul glowingly and if Liverpool submit an improved bid, they could sign the Spaniard.
Liverpool’s pre-season preparations are set to intensify on Tuesday as they get set to face Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart in back to back 30-minute matches in Austria.
UNSPECIFIED, AUSTRIA – JULY 17:(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah, Leighton Clarkson, Naby Keita,Ben Woodburn, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a training session on July 17, 2021 in UNSPECIFIED, Austria. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, back at home, sporting director Michael Edwards is hard at work trying to get Liverpool’s transfer business sorted.
Where are we with Saul?
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are at an impasse over the finances involved in a swap deal for Saul and Antoine Griezmann and so it could be that the door will soon open for Liverpool to get their man.
While the Reds have left a €40million plus bonuses offer on the table in the hopes Atleti get desperate, a claim from Moby Haque suggests that a second offer could see Liverpool sign Saul.
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 06: Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid and Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid look on during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Espanyol Barcelona at Wanda Metropolitano on May 6, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
He suggests: “My Atletico friend advised me that Fernando Torres has spoken to Saul about LFC in glowing terms.
“If LFC moves a better offer to AM it’s doable.”
EDIT: Anfield Watch has published an article covering a claim from Mercado ATM, as cited by Anfield Buzz, that “Fernando Torres has advised Saúl that if he has to go, he should choose Liverpool over Barcelona. Saul is thinking about it.”
Saul is the dream option this summer
Signing Thiago Alcantara last summer was incredible and the only complaint any Liverpool fan could have is that we wish we were able to sign the 26-year-old version of the Spanish maestro.
In Saul, the Reds can do just that.
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 06: Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Club Atletico de Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on November 6, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
They are, of course, different players stylistically but they are similar in many ways and would combine with Jordan Henderson or Fabinho to form a very aggressive and dominant midfield trio.
If Michael Edwards can sign the Atleti midfielder for €50m or less and on a favourable payment structure, it could turn out to be another masterclass.
Only issue is that Salary Sport reports that he is earning £207,000 per week in Spain and that would make him Liverpool’s highest earner before bonuses.
