Liverpool plan €50m approach for La Liga star with dog named ‘Anfield’

Liverpool are considering an approach to Atletico Madrid to sign attacking midfielder Marcos Llorente, according to reports in Spain.

The player is well known to Liverpool fans, having already scored twice at Anfield this year.

His double came as Atletico came from behind in extra time to seal a dramatic win at Anfield and knock Liverpool out of last season’s Champions League.

Llorente was in and out of Diego Simeone’s side last season. But he appears to have emerged as a key component in their side this time around. He’s played in all seven of their matches so far, with Atleti so far unbeaten in LaLiga.

His form, according to Don Balon, has also caught Liverpool’s attention. The Spanish outlet claims Liverpool are considering a €50m (£45) approach for the midfielder in 2021.

They claim talks have already taken place, with Atletico desperately trying to persuade the player to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.

However, the link does not really add up. Liverpool are well equipped for players in his position. The likes of Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri and even Curtis Jones are more than capable of playing a similar role for the Reds.

Furthermore, Jurgen Klopp is far more likely to spend any money on a new defender instead. The Reds have lost Virgil van Dijk to an ACL injury; the Dutchman unlikely to play again this season.

 


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Llorente on how he made Liverpool ‘freak out’

Reflecting on his two-goal Anfield salvo earlier this year, Llorente reckons his side’s never-say-die attitude made Liverpool ‘freak out’.

Vitolo, Marcos Llorente Atletico Madrid TEAMtalk

“They started to put us in a position to attack and with the second goal we knew we had no choice but to go forward,” Llorente told Marca. “They had millions of chances and I think they believed they had done enough with the goals, but with our reaction they freaked out.

“On the first goal I lost the ball and squeezed the goalkeeper, who gave us the ball back. In the second, when Morata gave me the ball I looked behind and nobody was with me. I took the shot, I’m not used to being in those situations!”

The midfielder also trolled Liverpool by naming his new dog ‘Anfield’ after his brace in the game.

 

READ MORE: Forgotten man in from cold as Klopp tells star of Liverpool importance