Liverpool transfer news: Reds back away from £53m Chelsea target

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Liverpool appear to be backing away from Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte despite strong rumours about a summer move.

Manuel Ugarte may not be heading for Liverpool after all following recent speculation surrounding a move to Anfield.

That is according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Liverpool have ‘stepped away’ from the race for Ugarte.

The Reds are understood to be considering other options as they seek midfield signings this summer.

Aston Villa and Chelsea are still interested though and Ugarte is believed to be available for around £53million this summer.

Liverpool want to spend their money elsewhere, which may come as a shock given the recent speculation about a move for Ugarte.

Agent Jorge Chijane claimed earlier this month that Liverpool genuinely are interested but weren’t alone in the race.

It may well be that Liverpool are committing a huge fee to signing Brighton and Hove Albion star Alexis Mac Allister that they now don’t want to spend another £50million-plus on Ugarte.

Who could Liverpool sign instead of Manuel Ugarte?

Ugarte is a combative defensive midfielder and would have surely been brought in as competition for Fabinho.

Maybe that is still a route Liverpool want to go down with Mac Allister offering more creativity in the final third.

Monaco’s Youssoufa Fofana has been linked with Liverpool and would likely be much cheaper than Ugarte with his contract ending in 2024.

The same goes for Frankfurt star Djibril Sow, who may well be on the radar of Jorg Schmadtke as he heads to Liverpool.

Schmadtke is likely to look into the German market as he prepares to become Liverpool’s new sporting director.

Sow would fit the bill for Liverpool in terms of midfield depth whilst Koln’s Ellyes Skhiri and Mainz talent Anton Stach wouldn’t break the bank either.

Liverpool need two or three midfielders this summer and given that they already have Fabinho, investing huge money in another anchor man may not be the ideal use of funds.

We would instead expect a cheaper anchor man like Fofana, Sow, Skhiri or Stach alongside top signing Mac Allister and another midfielder in the £30million to £40milliion range.