Liverpool set to go head-to-head with Arsenal to sign 7-goal Real Madrid winger
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are all set to lock horns with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal to acquire the signature of Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez.
As per the Spanish news outlet Diario Gol – via Birmingham Mail – both these Premier League clubs are on the lookout for signing an attacking winger for their respective reasons. As things stand for Arsenal, Wenger could well and truly offer Vazquez a regular first-team spot, something which he hasn’t seen this season at Real under Zinedine Zidane. Despite his limited appearances (only ten starts in La Liga), the 26-year-old has delivered a decent outcome.
In 34 appearances (across La Liga, Champions League and Copa Del Rey), Vazquez has scored seven goals and has registered eight assists. But despite his ‘not-so-bad’ numbers, the 26-year-old’s role is reduced to making substitute appearances for the majority of the season and this is why he is understood to be keen on leaving the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
As far as Liverpool are concerned, they are on the lookout for acquiring a potential replacement to Philippe Coutinho – who joined Barcelona in January – and while Vazquez may not well be a like-to-like successor, his experience on the grandest stage (UEFA Champions League) will surely make him one of the best buys for the Reds. But as Daily Mirror quotes, Liverpool are only looking at Vazquez as a cover, given that the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are simply irreplaceable, right at this very moment.
But then again, Liverpool’s high-pressing and attacking brand of football is something that makes them an attractive venue to play the sport, and this is where they might very well edge Arsenal in this speculation. Adding to it, there already are rumours regarding how Mohamed Salah is gathering interest from Spain. Reports from across Europe have credited Real Madrid with a strong interest in the Egyptian and as per the aforementioned source, Salah could well become the centrepiece of a potential swap deal, which will obviously include a hefty fee tagged on the Egyptian.
But as far as the player himself is concerned, it is being quoted that despite not getting regular first-team opportunities, he still carries a great relationship with his manager Zinedine Zidane and “is purely wanting a fresh start for his stalling career.”
