Such is the state of the Saul transfer saga that it has reached the point where there are so many voices on the matter it’s difficult to make sense of it all.
Liverpool are biding their time in the transfer market this summer much like they did last summer before they eventually pounced, spending £72m to secure their signatures.
With less than four weeks until the start of the new Premier League season, Liverpool have made just one signing.
Konate will wear the no.5 jersey for Liverpool, following in Georginio Wijnaldum’s footsteps. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC)
Ibrahima Konate arrived from RB Leipzig for a fee in the region of £36million and some supporters are beginning to grow concerned.
Saul is a player highly rated by Liverpool and the Reds have already submitted a €40million plus add-ons bid to sign him but Atletico Madrid want €50million.
As Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday, the Reds are ready to pounce for Saul and the Italian even corroborated Anfield Central’s exclusive about an offer being made to sign the midfielder.
On Sunday evening, Francesc Aguilar reported that that talks between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are ‘stranded’ regarding a swap deal for Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann.
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 27: Antoine Griezmann (R) and Saul Niguez (L) of Atletico Madrid celebrate after Joaquin Fernandez (not seen) of Valladolid scored an own goal during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valladolid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on April 27, 2019.
(Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
The Spanish journalist claims his agent is ‘advancing the negotiations’ with Manchester United and they have taken a ‘decisive’ step, ‘surpassing’ Liverpool in the race for the 26-year-old’s sought after signature.
Following on from that, Matteo Moretto reported that the ‘Saúl-Griezmann exchange is stopped’ and goes on to say that Premier League sides are pushing for the Atletico Madrid midfielder.
Then, Jonathan Shrager tweeted that he had been in contact with Saul’s agent but had been unable to extract any information.
I texted Jonathan Barnett about Saúl Ñíguez and #MUFC. He replied that he “will never discuss these things whether they are right or wrong.” In keeping with my previous interactions with Mr Barnett, always courteous, but guarded on his clients. Not an uncommon stance among agents
— Jonathan Shrager (@JonathanShrager) July 19, 2021
The latest update comes from Fabrizio Romano, who states that multiple Premier League clubs have made approaches for Saul.
He also adds: “Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are negotiating for Saúl-Griezmann swap deal but there’s still NO agreement. Barça insist they want money in the deal plus players won’t reduce their salaries.”
Aguilar suggests that Manchester United are ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Saul and while he didn’t mention what the Red Devils have done to take the ‘decisive step’ ahead of their rivals, the Anfield side needs to act quickly to ensure they aren’t left in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s wake.
Apparently, it’s quite simple for Liverpool. With the Merseysiders already having submitted their first bid, one claim has been made that a second bid could take the deal across the line.
This claim comes from Moby Haque and while United seem to objectively be doing all the right things this summer, Liverpool have the trophies and recent track record to convince Saul that Anfield is the place for him and not Old Trafford.
