EPL Transfer Rumour: Liverpool ready to open negotiations for Gonzalo Higuain
A striker might not be at the top of the priority list for Liverpool this transfer window, with five strikers already there in their squad. Daniel Sturridge has managed to get few games under his belt, after going through a new training regime under Jurgen Klopp, whilst the likes of Divock Origi and Danny Ings are also ready to step up if needed.
Meanwhile, the future of Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli still remains to be sorted, and Brazilian star Roberto Firmino is also more than capable of playing as a striker, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp from scouting his potential targets.
The Liverpool manager was spotted with a man, who the media claimed to be Gonzalo Higuain’s brother, Nicolas, watching the match between Argentina and Chile at the Levi’s Stadium in the United States.
Nicolas Higuain also happens to be the agent of the Napoli star and soon several media outlets started proposing the idea of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp wanting to sign Higuain this summer. The Liverpool manager left the stadium after Higuain was subbed off which only added fuel to the fire.
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Earlier, reports in the English media suggested Gonzalo Higuain is very keen on signing for Liverpool as he wants to play under Jurgen Klopp, whilst Bein Sports also claimed that the Argentine’s move to Liverpool should be completed in the near future.
Today, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport said that Jurgen Klopp was present at Levi’s Stadium only to watch Higuain. The German manager is understood to be a long-term admirer of the Argentine striker and wants him to lead Liverpool’s attack next season.
It is reported there are rumours from California claiming about a possible contact between both parties, and Klopp is trying to figure out a way to bring Higuain to Anfield. We pointed out in our report yesterday that negotiations with Napoli can prove to be very difficult, as President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has made it very clear that any team wanting to sign Higuain must pay his release clause of €94.7m, and Gazzetta reiterate it.
Liverpool, however, have not walked away from any possible deal and are ready to open negotiations with Napoli, despite knowing his release clause, but are hoping to get a discount on his transfer fee.
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Napoli have offered Higuain wages worth €7m a year until 2020, but Gazzetta says that the player could be tempted by the Merseyside club if they’re ready to offer him even higher wages, which shouldn’t be a problem for Liverpool if Klopp is genuinely keen on signing him.
The 28-year-old is yet to sign a contract with Napoli, and with a couple of years left in his current deal, it remains to be seen if the Serie A side can be forced to sell the player at a lower price.
This might not mean good news for the likes of Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli, who might be moved to fund a move for Higuain. The Argentine star has scored 36 goals this season in 35 appearances in the Serie A this season, and it remains to be seen if Gazzetta are just jumping on the bandwagon or there is something concrete in this.