Liverpool are reportedly ‘leading the race’ to a transfer for Atalanta defender Cristian Romero.
The Reds face competition from arch-rivals Manchester United for the Argentina international as well as Merseyside enemies Everton also holding an interest.
Romero has enjoyed a dramatic rise to prominence in Serie A over the last few seasons – enjoying loan spells at Genoa and Atalanta from parent club Juventus.
Despite somewhat resolving their central defensive issue with the arrival of Ibrahima Konate, a report from Calciomercato, as cited by TEAMtalk on Twitter, claims Liverpool continue to ‘study’ the situation.
Twitter: Liverpool are leading the race to sign Cristian Romero, claims a report.
https://t.co/ZBHyTl5xNS (@TEAMtalk)
The 23-year-old played 42 times in 2020/21 – including once against the Reds – and it is expected the Black and Blues will take up the option to purchase the defender outright for £13.6million.
Were that to be the case, the report claims the Bergamo based club will demand a fee in the region of £43million for the one time capped Argentina man.
Capable of operating at centre-back or as a right-sided full-back, Romero was described as being ‘destined to reach very high levels’ by Genoa legend Claudio Onofri.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Having been left brutally short of centre-back options previously, Jurgen Klopp could already be awash with an embarrassment of riches next term.
As Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all return to full fitness ahead of pre-season, the emergence of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams as well as the arrival of Konate, means there is true strength in depth.
Signing Romero would offer additional cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold but would surely mean at least one of the aforementioned options would be on their way out of Anfield.
Despite all of that, shelling out the mooted £43million for a position no longer likely not to be seen as a priority seems farfetched.
