Liverpool are looking to secure the services of Italian midfielder Bryan Cristante next summer. According to recent reports, the Reds are set to go head to head with Arsenal in pursuit of the 23-year-old talent. It is being reported that the Benfica star, who is currently plying his trade at Atlanta on a loan deal, has emerged as a potential £27m target for the Merseysiders as Jurgen Klopp looks to beef up his midfield in the off-season ahead of the new campaign.
Cristante has put in some eye-catching displays for Atlanta this season, finding the back of the net 10 times in 33 matches across all competitions. He also has two assists to his name so far. The Italian is considered as one of the best young midfielders in European football and his recent performances have alerted clubs from the Premier League interested in his services. Some sources are also claiming that West Ham United and Watford are keen on landing his signature with Inter Milan and Juventus also keeping tabs on the Italian international.
Atalanta are expected to activate an option to buy Cristante for just £2m at the end of the season. It is understood that they will try to cash in immediately for a massive profit, with the growing interest likely to drive Cristante’s asking price through the roof.
The Reds are currently in the 3rd place in the Premier League table after securing a well-deserved 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday. Klopp’s Liverpool find themselves just above Tottenham Hotspur in the league with four points differentiating the two sides right now.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side are 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City which indicates that they would need to bring in some newfaces in the summer to try and bridge the gap between themselves and their top 4 rivals in the coming years. The addition of Cristante will undoubtedly bolster Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options as they look to mount a realistic title challenge next season. The Reds already have the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain vying for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting eleven so the potential arrival of Cristante will definitely add more competition for places at Anfield.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Cristante and whether he ends up making a move to the Premier League in the near future.
