Prominent journalist James Pearce has sounded out uncertainty over the recent talk of Liverpool lodging an opening offer for one of their top targets in Atletico Madrid midfield maestro Saul Niguez.
The Spanish international has been linked with a summer switch to Merseyside with the La Liga holders Atletico keen to offload him after announcing the capture of Rodrigo De Paul from Serie A outfit Udinese for a deal that set them back by £30 million.
It was speculated that Liverpool’s opening offer worth £35 million had been dismissed by Atletico Madrid who are keen to get a transfer fee north of £40 million to sanction Saul’s sale to the Anfield camp who are joined by La Liga giants FC Barcelona in the race to sign the midfielder.
Liverpool’s need to add to their options in the centre of the park has increased in the wake of Gini Wijnaldum leaving Anfield after five seasons to sign for Paris Saint-Germain and Jurgen Klopp has been active in the transfer market this summer while on the search for Wijnaldum’s replacement.
Speaking to The1892RedsPodcast, Pearce seemed unconvinced over the Liverpool and Saul links with The Athletic journalist claiming that there was still much doubt over the Reds making the first move for the Spaniard.
“At the moment it’s pretty tenuous.”
“I know there were some reports of a £35m bid going in – my information was that definitely wasn’t correct.”
