Liverpool have joined the race to sign Sampdoria sensation Patrik Schick, according to a reliable journalist.
Sky Sports Italy correspondent Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed on his personal website that the Merseyside giants are willing to activate the £21.5million release clause in the Czech striker’s contract to land him this summer.
Di Marzio reports the 21-year-old’s agent Pavel Paska told Sampdoria in a lengthy meeting on Wednesday that Liverpool, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are all ready to pay the fee required to sign him.
This comes after Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX, as quoted by FC Inter 1908, which provides content for sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, claimed last week that Tottenham had agreed the terms of a contract offer with Schick.
Di Marzio makes no mention of Spurs in his report as he explained that Juventus are the favourites to land the youngster, who had made a huge impact in Serie A this season.
The links between Schick and countryman Pavel Nedved, who is on the board of the Champions League finalists, could be integral to the Italian club winning the race.
However, Liverpool’s strong interest is fascinating and provides some insight into where manager Jurgen Klopp believes his team need strengthening this summer.
Sampdoria are powerless to keep the dynamic striker if a club triggers the £21.5million release clause in his contract.
The three-times Czech international has caught the eye of Europe’s elite clubs after bagging 13 goals and providing three assists in 33 league and cup appearances for Sampdoria this season.
He has an outstanding goals-per-minutes ratio for the campaign, with his strikes coming every 113 minutes, an excellent return for such a demanding league.