Reported Liverpool transfer target Karim Adeyemi is now set to sign for Borussia Dortmund.
That’s according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. Posting an update on Adeyemi’s situation via Twitter, Romano claimed that the 20-year-old’s transfer was a ‘done deal.’
Despite Liverpool’s interest, the RB Salzburg striker is reportedly set to move to Dortmund for £32.5m.
According to Romano, the verbal agreement on the transfer was reached ‘months ago.’ Adeyemi’s contract reportedly won’t contain a release clause that Liverpool could potentially trigger later down the line.
Liverpool lose out on Adeyemi
Adeyemi is a name that many Liverpool fans will have become familiar with over the course of this season. After starting the campaign on fire, he brought himself to the attention of a wider audience.
That inevitably led to transfer links away from Salzburg’s fabled talent factory. Reports that Liverpool had been tracking the forward for three years started to surface. Signs pointed towards a potential raid from The Reds.
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Even as recently as March, Liverpool were still said to be in the frame. Sky Germany reported that Adeyemi continued to be ‘in talks’ with The Reds.
But Dortmund always looked to be in the box-seat and it seems an official announcement is now imminent.
Dortmund set to profit once more
A young and prolific striker moving from Salzburg to Dortmund? We’ve been here before. Unfortunately for Adeyemi, he is likely to be marked against the man he looks set to replace at Signal Iduna Park – Erling Haaland.
Haaland is certain to leave the German club this summer. Despite those lofty targets though, Adeyemi looks a safe bet to score goals.
He bagged 23 goals for Salzburg as the Austrians won the league and cup double this season.
Over £32m is a decent sized fee though. In fact, it’s almost double what they paid for Haaland in 2020.
The lack of a release clause suggests that should his development go as planned, Dortmund could be looking for a massive fee to sell him on in two or three years time, as is their model. In that respect, Liverpool may now have missed out once and for all.