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Liverpool will have to fork out ‘Manchester City money’ to sign 21-year-old centre-back target also chased by Manchester United

Liverpool have not shied away from forking out a big fee to land a top target from time to time with Virgil van Dijk being the prime example of the club spending big to sign an elite-level talent in the past.

The Merseyside giants have been more careful about spending big money and last summer was a transfer window where they were more frugal than usual.

They were prepared to pay Martin Zubimendi’s release clause as he was identified as an elite-level talent that they needed to sign but the Spaniard decided against leaving Real Sociedad and is unlikely to change his mind in the near future.

However, the club have been clear that they can’t compete with Manchester City’s finances and will need to be smarter in the market while raising funds by selling players for a premium.

But their transfer plans are getting increasingly difficult to execute given transfer fees are only rising and clubs such as Manchester City remain prepared to pay a premium to land the top players.

21-year-old centre-back Castello Lukeba is one of the players the club are tracking as they seek to bring in young defenders next summer.

However, their pursuit became harder as the centre-back signed a new five-year contract with RB Leipzig.

The Liverpool target has a massive release clause

RB Leipzig did well to convince the defender to sign a new deal but he is eventually expected to leave as it has been their model for years.

However, the new deal has a buyout clause and according to German broadcaster Sky Deutschland, €90m is the figure mentioned in the clause.

Leipzig are tough when it comes to release clauses and are unlikely to sell if his suitors do not agree to pay up the figure.

Liverpool would have to pay as much as Manchester City forked out for Josko Gvardiol last year if they want to sign Lukeba from RB Leipzig next summer.

It would also be as much as the Reds paid when they signed Van Dijk from Southampton and he turned out to be a transformative signing for the club.

Will the Reds pay a big fee to land a potential Van Dijk successor?

Regardless of whether Van Dijk signs a new deal, Liverpool are aware that they need to bring in his potential successor sooner or later.

Lukeba is considered a great young defensive talent but he is still only 21 and in the developmental stage of his career.

However, he would cost as much as Van Dijk, who was already proven in the Premier League when he joined the Reds, if Liverpool want to sign the Frenchman.

Liverpool want to invest in young players but it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to pay the big bucks needed to land the elite-level talents.

The club are keeping tabs on several defenders and at the moment there are slightly more experienced centre-backs available in the market for a lesser price than Lukeba.

Richard Hughes and Arne Slot will have a decision to make on the RB Leipzig defender if other clubs agree to meet his release clause figure.