Marseille ‘open to offers’ as star ‘waits on transfer approach from Liverpool’
Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car is reportedly hoping Liverpool rekindle their interest in him this summer, amid claims he can leave for the right price.
The Croatian centre-half was targeted by Liverpool in January and a deal was almost struck before a late change of heart by Marseille.The 24-year-old had travelled to Marseille Province Airport ready to fly to Liverpool. However, his club pulled the plug on the deal, leaving the Reds to snap up Ozan Kabak instead.
Kabak has been an indifferent performer since taking his place in Jurgen Klopp’s side. And with an £18m option to buy, the jury remains out over whether the Reds will secure his signing on a permanent basis.
As a result, Liverpool could be in the market for alternatives. Earlier this month it was claimed a deal for RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate was in the pipeline. Those rumours have since been firmly denied by Konate himself.
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However, the possibility remains that an approach for Caleta-Car could be rekindled. And Liverpool’s prospects of landing the 12-times capped defender have increased amid reports in the French media.
As per RMC Sport, Marseille’s recently-appointed boss Jorge Sampaoli is ready to sell the defender should ‘an interest offer emerge’. The outlet also claims Boubacar Kamara is another OM star up for grabs.
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They do state, however, that Sampaoli is hoping to retain the services of Florian Thauvin and Jordan Amavi, both of whom are out of contract this summer. Both Thauvin and Amavi have been linked with moves to the Premier League.
And should they not sign extensions at Marseille, they could be joined in the Premier League by Caleta-Car.
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Caleta-Car wants Liverpool to make fresh approach
As per Le 10 Sport, the Croatian is ‘desperately hoping’ Liverpool rekindle their efforts to bring him to Anfield. They claim he would jump at the chance to move to Anfield were the opportunity to present itself once again.
Indeed, Caleta-Car confirmed back in February that the interest from Liverpool ‘flattered him’.
“Today, there is the Champions League, and I am going to watch the two games Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig v Liverpool],” he said.
“I received an offer from Liverpool. It was an honour for me to know that such a club wanted me.
“We decided with the club that I was going to stay.
“Marseille is also a great club and I still have a lot of improving to do here.”
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