Liverpool could have signed perfect forward for £17.1m in 2018 but must now pay £72m to sign him

Liverpool could have signed Lautaro Martinez for £22.5m in 2018 but will need to pay £72m if they sign him this summer.

Roberto Firmino has been in decline since Project Restart and while he still has a place at Liverpool and in supporters' hearts, Jurgen Klopp needs a clinical forward.

That said, any old striker won't be enough. Whoever arrives in the attacking department needs to be able to press high up the pitch and be versatile to cover other positions.

Lautaro Martinez fits this description perfectly in my view and the Reds actually passed up on signing him in 2018 before he joined Inter Milan for €20million (£17.1m).

Anfield Central has learned via a source close to the Reds that the forward was heavily scouted before he moved to Serie A and that Liverpool, Barca and Borussia Dortmund were all in contact with Racing Club before Inter stole a march on interested parties.

Now, with rumours resurfacing, Transfermarkt claims his value is closer to €84million (£72m) and it will be virtually impossible for Liverpool to sign him this summer.

Sport claimed in mid-June that the Argentine forward is no longer negotiating a deal to stay at Inter Milan and Liverpool are interested. He’d be the perfect player to star as the focal point of the Reds’ attack.

On May 12th, 90Min reported that both Manchester City and Liverpool requested that they be apprised of any developments in the Argentine’s future and the Guardian reported on May 31st that Inter are ready to sell.

On June 14th, I wrote: "Not only is Martinez the perfect heir to Roberto Firmino, but signing him would also seemingly deny Manchester City of one of their top targets to replace Sergio Aguero, who has joined Barcelona."

In all competitions last season, Martinez scored 19 goals and assisted 11.