Liverpool have been named as a club of interest to Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez should he leave the Italians this summer.
That comes from TUTTOmercatoWEB, who claim that the 24-year-old wants to join a club with ‘many titles’, such as Liverpool.
Martinez reportedly ‘will not stay in Milan’ if an offer of £60m-£65m should arrive for him. It’s claimed that due to Inter’s budgetary issues and the potential arrival of Paulo Dybala or Romelu Lukaku, Inter would entertain a sale.
According to TUTTOmercatoWEB, both Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have ‘already looked at’ Lautaro. The player isn’t interested though. He’d reportedly prefer to join a Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool or Manchester City.
Martinez fails his audition
Liverpool had long been linked with a move for Martinez before he rocked up at Anfield in the Champions League this season.
The last-16 tie was seen as a good chance for the Argentine to show what he could do with Jurgen Klopp watching on.
Instead, he was largely anonymous over the two legs barring one exquisite moment to win the game on Merseyside. His thunderbolt at the Anfield Road end to win the game was a moment of real magic amidst an otherwise forgettable performance.
Funds better channelled elsewhere
Since February’s tie with Liverpool, Martinez has been in good form for Inter. He bagged twice just last night to put them through to the Coppa Italia final, as they beat AC Milan 3-0.
That took his season’s tally to 19, not a bad return. Liverpool signed then 16-goal Luis Diaz for comfortably less than the price being quoted for Martinez, though.
For all his qualities, the Argentina international failed his audition at Anfield. By contrast, another player linked with The Reds – Darwin Nunez – passed his with flying colours.
The fee to prize both players away from their clubs this summer would probably be similar. If Liverpool are looking at a new forward to add to their collection, the funds would surely be better off spent on the Uruguayan.