Liverpool are interested in securing the services of Atletico Madrid defender Sime Vrsaljko. According to recent sources, the Reds are lining up a move for the Croatian but could face competition from Serie A club Napoli for his signature. It is understood that the 25-year-old is leaning towards to move to Italy than the Premier League following his failed attempts to break into the first-team in Spanish football in this campaign.
In a recent interview, Los Rojiblancos boss Diego Simeone admitted that he would be willing to negotiate and part ways with the full-back for the right price which is reported to be around £22m.
The Argentine manager said, “Sime is a big player and all big players have a value. We are happy when other clubs look at our players, this is normal and it is positive for us. The truth is Sime has been injured and when he has played for us he has done very well, but it is a fact that Juanfran has done superbly also.”
Vrsaljko has featured in just four matches for the La Liga outfit in this season and a total of 20 matches since putting pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Los Rojiblancos in 2016.
It is being reported that Jurgen Klopp is interested in the right-back despite having a plethora of full-backs at his disposal. The Reds already have Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and the injured, Nathaniel Clyne vying for that position. While the Croation can primarily play on the right, he can also feature on the left side of the back-line. His versatility is something that Jurgen Klopp’s can definitely benefit from.
Liverpool are currently going through a rough patch defensively which has seen them ship in 20 goals in 17 Premier League matches. Jurgen Klopp is now looking at his defensive options and with Joe Gomez’s ability to play in a more central defensive role and Trent Alexander-Arnold more accustomed to playing in the midfield, the German can definitely make use of Vrsaljko’s services.
With stiff competition from Napoli, the Reds of Merseyside are not willing to go on a bidding war with the Serie A heavyweights. Liverpool CEO Peter Moore disclosed that it is not “the Liverpool way”. In a recent interview, Moore admitted,
“From the perspective of competing, we do things the Liverpool way. The chemistry that we build on the field – it’s not about buying the most expensive player.”
It remains to be seen whether the Reds can fend off competition from Italy in pursuit of his signature.
