There’s a major twist in the Aissa Mandi to Liverpool transfer saga.
The Metro are now reporting that Liverpool are inches away from securing their first buy of the window.
Apparently Real Betis are prepared to accept just £10.8 million for the Algerian international, who has just one year left on his current contract.
That could cost the Spanish side big-time as they look set to miss out on the £25 million release clause in the defender’s deal.
After 124 La Liga games, the time might be upon Aissa Mandi to look for new pastures. Liverpool would definitely represent an exciting challenge for the 28-year-old, who has also played in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 for Reims.
The sale of Dejan Lovren to Zenit St. Petersberg has freed up a squad place and £10 million spending money. Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards will need to replace the Croatian international by using the market, and this deal seems within the realm of possibility.
It’s unlikely that the club will swoop for a big-ticket replacement for Lovren, especially as they’ll have to come in and work their way past Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren for the chance to play alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Mandi can also play at right-back, although covering that position is less important following the arrival of Neco Williams on the scene. He was given a chance of first team football following the lockdown, and seems to have enough ability to contribute to the team for 2020/2021.
Many fans are getting impatient that owners Fenway Sports Group are yet to pull the trigger on any transfers this season. Thiago Alcantara has been linked, but there doesn’t seem to be much appetite for spending money on the Spaniard.
Keep an eye on this one in the coming days, because the fee fits with what we know Liverpool could afford – as does the profile of the club and the available squad position.