Real Madrid are plotting a player-plus-cash deal involving Lucas Vazquez in an attempt to prise Mo Salah from Liverpool, according to Don Balon.
The Spanish football outlet report that Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to sign the 25-year-old Anfield star this summer, and is working out a way to get Liverpool to negotiate.
Don Balon claim that 26-year-old winger Vazquez will be used as a bargaining chip in the deal, with his involvement lowering Salah’s price from £158million to £123million.
It is said that Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of Real youth product Vazquez, with the dazzling winger likely to move on this summer after failing to nail down a starting place at the Bernabeu.
Vazquez is a two-time Champions League winner with Real, and the 26-year-old has also won the La Liga title and three cups with Los Blancos.
Good move for Liverpool?
No.
Salah is the best player in Europe on current form, and that form shows no signs of letting up. Four goals against Watford at the weekend took his tally to 28 Premier League goals in 31 games in his first season in England, which is quite simply incredible.
The winger looks on course to win the league’s Golden Boot with both Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero injured, and could potentially lead Liverpool to the Champions League title.
Vazquez is no doubt a good player, and him plus £123million would be a tempting deal, but you simply cannot put a price on Salah at the moment for the Reds.
This is Futbol rating: 2/10
Likely to happen?
It would seem unlikely that Madrid would even make such an offer.
However, if they did, you would think that Liverpool may consider it.
That kind of money could be used to strengthen their whole side, while also receiving a quality player coming the other way.
But first, that offer must come in, which is surely not likely to actually happen, especially considering the reliability of the Spanish press.
This is Futbol rating: 3/10