Liverpool will stump up the £40 million transfer release clause it will take to bring Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet to Anfield in the summer.
The Liverpool Echo are reporting that Liverpool are ready to battle it out with Barcelona and Manchester United for the signing of young Sevilla center back Clement Lenglet. The 22-year-old Frenchman is seen as the ideal defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk.
The player has drawn attention from the biggest clubs in Europe after his excellent displays in the Champions League. Both Manchester United and Liverpool saw for themselves the quality of the young defender; the Reds faced him in Spain back in November.
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Earlier in the year his release clause was being reported as £28 million but it is now believed to be nearer the £40 million mark. That figure will not put off the Reds hierarchy who have already shown they are willing to spend big to get the young talent that want most.
There was no hesitation from the club to pay out huge sums for of £75 million for Virgil van Dijk or £50 million for Naby Keita. Even the £35 million signings of Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain indicate a willingness to meet big fees when it is the right player.
If Liverpool are to sign a pricey center back this summer then there will be questions over the Anfield futures of Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan.
With Matip out for the season Lovren is the holder of the first team berth at present. He is performing well at the moment and had two good games against Man City in the Champions League. Klavan is a cheap and flexible squad option; consistent but unremarkable at either center back or left back.
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Perhaps Joel Matip will find himself the odd man out this summer. He will need to have a good pre-season and show more of the form from his first season at the club to secure his Liverpool future.