Report: After beating Klopp to £34m man, rivals now want £57k-a-week Liverpool target to replace him

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Liverpool eyed signing Saul in the last transfer window before he joined Chelsea on loan, now the Blues could deny Jurgen Klopp another target in Marcelo Brozovic to replace him.

Reports by Mundo Deportivo cited Anfield as a potential destination for Saul in July, as he plotted leaving Atletico Madrid. Klopp liked what the Spaniard could bring to Merseyside as an all-round player to replace Georginio Wijnaldum in his midfield.

But the Colchoneros snubbed Liverpool’s €40m (£34m) offer, only to settle on the fee in a loan-to-buy transfer with Chelsea. The Blues paid Atleti a £3.5m loan fee on Deadline Day, and have a £30m option to buy the 26-year-old next year. But that is now very unlikely.

Thomas Tuchel has only awarded Saul three appearances for Chelsea since his transfer so far in all competitions. His only Premier League outing to date also came on the 19-cap maestro’s debut on September 11. To leave the Blues already second-guessing his arrival.

Now, La Razon report Saul may return to Atleti next year, but Chelsea will look to reinforce Tuchel’s engine room with another reported Liverpool target in Inter Milan’s Brozovic. The Croatian is currently set to be out of contract in June, with his deal expiring next summer.

Chelsea eye Liverpool target Brozovic to replace Saul

Liverpool have been monitoring Brozovic’s situation at Inter Milan with a view to a possible transfer in 2022. That’s according to Inter Live, who claim the Reds will offer him a €7m-a-year (£115-a/w) wage to move to Anfield. Calciomercato also report Inter Milan are scared Brozovic will leave the San Siro when his current €3.5m-a/y (£57k-a/w) deal expires.

Chelsea may not be the only competition Liverpool could face for the free transfer of Inter Milan’s Brozovic, however. Tuttosport have additionally reported Newcastle United are in the mix following the Saudi-led takeover at St James’ Park this month. The Toon like the 28-year-old and have probed his situation to acquire a consistent and combative midfielder.

Brozovic has started all 11 of Inter Milan’s matches so far this season in all competitions. He also opened 36 of 42 outings last term, including 29 of 33 to help the Nerazzurri win Serie A. The San Siro outfit currently trail Napoli by seven-points in their title defence attempt.