An opening bid from Liverpool for Saul Niguez has been rebuffed by the Champions of Spain, according to reports from local news outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Liverpool had reportedly lodged an opening offer worth £34 million for the Spaniard who is believed to be on the fringes of the Atletico squad and has been backed to call it quits this summer with the La Liga holders snapping up the in-demand Rodrigo de Paul.
Atletico Madrid are claimed to be holding out for a better offer to come their way from the Anfield camp whom they know are in the transfer market this summer for fresh blood in the midfield area and have zeroed in on Saul as a top name on their shopping list.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have emerged as suitors for the midfield player with the Liverpool boss keen on signing a new face to bolster his options in the centre of the park in the aftermath of the exit of Gini Wijnaldum.
Wijnaldum was a mainstay in the Liverpool midfield department for five seasons and his departure leaves Klopp with only Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as his experienced names besides last summer’s recruit Thiago Alcantara who hit his stride only in the backend of his debut campaign.
