Liverpool interest in exciting double deal prompts major response as journalist tells Jurgen Klopp straight

Liverpool have discovered their chances of raiding La Liga club Athletic Bilbao for Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet following an emphatic update from a Spanish journalist.

Liverpool are said to be vying with Aston Villa for the signings of Williams and Sancet. Unai Emery knows the pair well after coming up against them in La Liga. But Jurgen Klopp wants to ruin Villa’s transfer chances by getting to the duo first.

On Tuesday, Fabrizio Romano spoke about the potential for central midfielder Sancet to join either Liverpool or Chelsea. The reporter said: “Despite the stories about Oihan Sancet, I’m not aware of any negotiation with Liverpool or Chelsea as of now.

“I think he’s a very good player. But price tag is always very important with Athletic so it’s never easy to negotiate with them.”

Despite claims from Spanish newspaper AS that Liverpool want to capture Sancet along with winger team-mate Williams, Romano is not so sure that such transfers will go through.

And the Liverpool rumours have now prompted a big response from journalist Alex de Llano. On Twitter, he completely downplays the links, saying there is no negotiation with Athletic right now.

Estadio Deportivo also provide an update on the situation. They claim Athletic chiefs are ‘not even thinking about’ selling either Sancet or Williams. This is because they are two integral players for current manager Ernesto Valverde.

In addition, relationships at Athletic would have to become severely ‘strained’ for them to ever sell the duo.

Liverpool may have to pursue other players

It seems there is a lot of work to be done on Liverpool’s side if they really do hold an interest in Sancet and Williams. It is likely the pair are simply on Liverpool’s scouting radar, rather than being primary targets for the summer transfer window.

Sancet is a good midfielder in his own right. Although, he is not on the level of Liverpool’s priority for the position, Jude Bellingham.

Signing Williams is not really a necessity at Anfield right now. That is because Mo Salah can play on the right side of the attacking trio. While Salah has not been in great form recently, he is still one of Klopp’s biggest goal threats.

Plus, Cody Gakpo can deputise on the right if Salah gets injured or needs a rest. Liverpool spent an initial £35million to sign him from PSV in the winter window. Gakpo is yet to score his first goal in a Liverpool shirt though and will be desperate to do that soon.

While a double swoop for Sancet and Williams appears to be off the table, Liverpool could bring in an exciting midfielder in addition to Bellingham this summer.

And he has even been labelled ‘the new Bellingham’, which should get Reds fans excited.