Liverpool join Arsenal in the race to sign £40m Italian midfield star

Liverpool interested in signing Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool have joined the race to sign Italian midfielder Manuel Locatelli this summer.

The 23-year-old had a brilliant summer as he won the Euros with Italy, who beat England in the finals at Wembley.

Since then, there has been a lot of interest in the midfielder, with Juventus and Arsenal competing for the 23-year-old’s signature. 

However, Liverpool have now joined the race as they look to sign a central midfielder this summer. Gini Wijnaldum left Liverpool this summer, leaving a vacant spot in the midfield line for the Reds. 

Manuel Locatelli could be a prime candidate for this spot but Liverpool will have to move fast for the player, with his agent confirming that Arsenal have already made a £34million bid for him while Locatelli himself favours a move to Juventus this summer. 

Speaking to Sky Italia (h/t Daily Mail), Sassuolo’s CEO Giovanni Carnevali said:

“Tomorrow we’ll have a direct contact with Juventus for Locatelli. He wants to join Juve.

“We’d be happy to sell Manuel (Locatelli) to Juve, but they need to pay the right fee. 

“Arsenal made a bid to sign him, and also a new English club is now in the race”.

However, Sassuolo have already rejected Juventus’ opening bid of £5m plus an option to buy for £20m as the Italian club are only willing to sell the player for £40million.

Moreover, Sassuolo have also made it clear that Locatelli will not be allowed to leave the club after the 8th of August. Thus, Liverpool could pull off a coup if they could swoop in and sign Locatelli this summer. 

Liverpool have also been linked with Saul Niguez, Franck Kessie, Paul Pogba, and Renato Sanches this summer, but only time will tell who the Reds will sign this summer.