In a recent print edition, Sport revealed that Liverpool are the joint favorites to land Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez this summer. It is understood that both the Reds and Manchester United are leading the race to secure the services of the Spanish midfield enforcer in this off-season (transcripted and translated by paisleygates.com).
Saul’s Solid Season In The Spanish Top-Flight
Saul had a fruitful campaign at the Spanish capital as he put in a handful of solid displays at the centre of Diego Simeone’s midfield. The Elche-born sensation’s contributions were enough for the Madrid outfit to lift the La Liga title last season when he scored twice and secured one assist in 41 appearances for them on all fronts.
The Spanish midfield ace proved his worth as a good performer at the Wanda Metropolitano after he averaged 1.7 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.9 clearances, 1.0 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game in the Spanish first division. Saul was also excellent with his ball distribution because he completed 84.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 26-year-old is currently amongst the best midfielders in Spanish football, so he could be a decent option for the Reds to sign in this summer transfer window. He could serve as a perfect replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, who decided to go to Paris-Saint Germain on a free transfer earlier this summer.
Will Saul Be A Good Choice For The Reds?
Saul has got a wide range of passes under his belt and can cut open the opposition backline with a decisive through ball in the final third. He hardly gives away the ball when retaining possession in midfield and can also get stuck in with a few strong tackles to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm in the game.
The 19-time Spain international can control the middle battle on his own when he is playing well on the field. However, he needs to work on improving his productivity in front of the opposition goal if he wants to be a success story under Jurgen Klopp’s tutelage at Anfield in the coming seasons.
At 26, Saul is enjoying the peak years of his career, so Liverpool can expect him to make an instant impact in England if they can win the chase for his services during this summer transfer period. Hence, the Atletico Madrid star will be a good choice for the Reds this summer as he will undeniably enhance the quality of their midfield department which might be enough for them to reclaim the Premier League title next season.
