David Ornstein confirms Liverpool have already explored signing £48m Arsenal target who’s ‘like a young Cristiano Ronaldo’

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool look set for a fair amount of turnover in their squad during 2025.

Although the Reds are currently not expected to do a great deal of business during January, there remains the chance that an opportunity presents iteself.

With the futures of key trio Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold still unresolved, Liverpool need to plan for any eventuality.

The nightmare scenario is of course that Liverpool lose all three of those players, in which case each would need to be replaced.

In Salah’s case, the Reds would need to figure out how exactly to replicate the stunning output the Egyptian is currently delivering.

While it is a big ask for the Liverpool owners, journalist David Ornstein has claimed that the Reds have already been exploring a deal for one player who could fit the bill.

Liverpool already explored Nico Williams transfer

Even if Liverpool do keep hold of Salah, they know that they are going to have to move on from the 32-year-old sooner or later.

As a result, it seems wise for the Reds to monitor the market for an exciting young forward who could come in at have an explosive impact at Anfield.

One player who has reportedly been on their radar in this respect is Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams. And writing in The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet on Tuesday, Ornstein says that Liverpool are very much aware of Williams. However, it appears that Arsenal’s interest is currently more active.

“Nico Williams has a host of suitors; Arsenal and Chelsea are high among them, while Liverpool looked into the viability of a deal last summer,” says the highly-respected journalist.

READ MORE: Jose Mourinho says ‘wonderful’ Liverpool target Nico Williams is better than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal

“Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would like to sign Williams in this window but the finances involved make it highly unlikely and Williams is not agitating to leave Athletic Bilbao.

“His release clause stands at just shy of €60million — it fluctuates with inflation — and would need to be paid in full. When the size of his salary is factored in, it becomes even more difficult. A summer transfer is more plausible.”

Why didn’t Liverpool go for Williams?

Ornstein goes on to say that the true value of Williams’ release clause with Athletic is 58 million Euros, or £48m.

On top of that, the reporter adds that the 22-year-old would be looking for a ‘sizeable salary package’ and describes a potential deal – admittedly for Arsenal – as being ‘daunting.’

From a Liverpool point of view, that’s also probably why they didn’t sign Williams after looking into his addition. But there are signs that the Spain international could be worth shelling out for.

Wayne Rooney described Williams as being like a ‘young Cristiano Ronaldo‘ for The Times over the summer and his arrival certainly would have caused excitement at Anfield.

With Arsenal seemingly unlikely to be able to complete a January deal, we’d say this is still very much one to watch for Liverpool this summer.