Liverpool links shut down as Atletico chief snaps back at £62m transfer claim
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has quickly rebuffed reports in the media suggesting they a £62m Joao Felix transfer to Liverpool was close to being finalised.
The LaLiga giants only signed the Portugal star from Benfica for more than €120m in 2019. However, the 22-year-old has not fully convinced in his first two campaigns with Atletico, despite scoring 19 goals and adding 10 assists. Indeed, he has been in and out of Diego Simeone’s side since his arrival.
As a result, recent reports suggested the player’s representative has been ‘already studying various alternatives to try to convince Atletico to let Felix leave’.
That led to claims that Felix would be the subject of a huge January approach from Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
However, reports earlier this week in FourFourTwo suggested it was Liverpool who were ‘nearing a £62m deal for Felix’.
Citing reports in Spain, they said Atleti were preparing to cut their losses on Felix. Furtermore, they were reportedly willing to accept his sale for close to half their initial investment.
Those rumours though have been very quickly dismissed by Cerezo, who claims Felix will be staying where he is.
Speaking to Cadena SER via Diario AS, the Atletico chief simply said: “For us, he is untransferable.”
Liverpool urged to swoop for Sweden striker
One area of the field Liverpool might be looking to strengthen, however, is in attack.
With Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both 29 and Roberto Firmino over 30, the trio are not getting any younger.
As such, the Reds are persistently linked with a number of younger alternatives to come in.
The Anfield club are looking at Porto winger Luis Diaz, who is ripping it up in the Portuguese top flight.
However, a more suitable option could be Real Sociedad forward Alexander Isak. The Sweden international is on 23 goals from this season and the last, putting him on Liverpool’s radar.
Former Liverpool man Jose Enrique thinks Isak could be a good fit under Klopp. He said (via Anfield Edition on Twitter): “I would go for one player who can play across the front three.
“[Alexander] Isak is definitely perfect for Liverpool’s profile of signings, a young player, not spending hundreds of millions, you’re going to spend £50-60m.”
READ MORE: Klopp lets January plan slip through update on surprise Liverpool deal
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