Liverpool face off against Real Madrid and Barcelona for Fabian Ruiz
According to the Express, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is keen on beating La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to the signing of Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
The 23-year-old Spaniard made the move to Italy from Real Betis in 2018. He has since established himself as a key member in Napoli’s midfield. He has made 32 appearances this season and has scored three goals and two assists.
Klopp views the central midfielder to be a key addition as he plans to strengthen his midfield in the summer. The Reds midfield has at times, especially in the absence of Jordan Henderson failed to perform adequately. A versatile player who can play anywhere in the midfield, the Spaniard would add much-needed quality to the Reds midfield.
The midfielder’s performances have also garnered interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United. He currently has three years left on his contract and Napoli are keen to extend.
According to the player’s agent, Ruiz is being eyed up by a number of Champions League clubs. He also revealed that the player is currently not keen on extending his stay following a season mired in off-field issues.
“A renewal? We have set aside negotiations for a while, until the end of the season.”
The agent also went on to confirm that a number of clubs have made an approach for the player, which has been intimated to Napoli. He went on to add that Ruiz has no release clause in his contract.
Time to rebuild?
Football across Europe has been suspended at least until next month due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has not stopped Klopp from working on potential transfer deals to bolster his squad for the future.
Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum will join James Milner in the 30+ category this season. With the Dutchman also set to enter the final year of his contract, a reshuffle is necessary to ensure Liverpool experience continued success.
Ruiz played both games against Liverpool in the Champions League this season, giving Klopp a first-hand idea of his ability. At just 23, Ruiz has both age and talent on his side to establish himself as a key midfielder for the next decade.
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Ruiz has won six caps for Spain and has scored once for his country. He was a part of the Spanish squad that won the European Under-21 Championships in 2019.
