Julien Laurens has suggested that Liverpool’s owners – Fenway Sports Group (FSG) – won’t put the money down for someone like Enzo Fernandez because he thinks they won’t gain anything from it as they try to sell the club.
The European football expert and journalist acknowledged how Jurgen Klopp needs someone ‘serious now’, with Argentina’s World Cup winner a player on their transfer radar, as he told ESPN.
At 21, Enzo Fernandez has just produced the performances of his life, and on football’s biggest stage, by helping Argentina record their greatest moment of the modern era by lifting their first World Cup since 1986.
The Benfica star didn’t even start the tournament, but his wonder goal against Mexico during the group stages started the road to him becoming a world champion and now possibly becoming a Premier League player.
Liverpool have knocked on this door before when they secured a club-record transfer for Darwin Nunez, and even if that was around six months ago, Laurens explained why he can’t see a deal for Fernandez, of even £60 million, happening under this current ownership.
“I think they need someone serious now,” said Laurens. “But I don’t think the money is available to spend maybe £50/60 million or more on a midfielder, like Enzo Fernandez, who has a release clause of £120 million, which is crazy. But somebody like that.
“I can’t see them signing anyone in January. I think it’s more for the summer.
“I think it’s more of a case that they don’t have the money. If you are FSG now, you are thinking ‘why would we add some cash in this club that we are looking to move on very quickly and go and sign Enzo Fernandez for £120 million? When we won’t get any rewards for it.
“Let’s just don’t do anything. Sell the club and then the next owner can do what he wants with that squad’.”
LIVERPOOL FOR SALE
One thing is for sure, Liverpool are up for sale, and in 12 months, or perhaps even less, they might just be under the guidance of new people – the quicker, the better for the Merseyside giants.
Whilst that lingers on in the background, Jurgen Klopp, who has done a quite sterling job, in comparison to who he has been up against, very much needs midfield additions in January.
It seems as though the World Cup has turned Liverpool’s attention to what they can nab from that tournament because, added to Fernandez, they are also being linked with Morocco star, Sofyan Amrabat.
Jude Bellingham might well be the dream signing, but if they can secure deals for both Fernandez and Amrabat before that, then it will do Liverpool the world of good.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
