Liverpool are analysing their options if Roma do not lower their asking price for Mo Salah, and are now in talks for Sporting Lisbon’s Gelson Martins, reports the usually reliable Sky Sports.
Roma are looking for close to £40m for Salah, but oddly, Sky claim that Sporting have put an even bigger £50m price-tag on Martins’ head…
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Liverpool though reckon we can significantly lower that fee – perhaps to around half the £50m originally quoted…
Martins is a 22-year-old prospect who scored six goals and registered nine assists last year, playing solely from the right-wing.
Salah though bagged 19 goals in all competitions last season, reaching double figures for assists, too. The Egyptian is faster and puts in a better shift defensively, and we’d definitely prefer us to sign Roma’s man than the inexperienced Martins.
At Empire, we think this is gesturing from Liverpool, showing Roma that we’ll turn our attentions elsewhere unless they agree to a fee we feel is fair. A £28m bid has so far been rejected, but Salah’s already agreed £90k/week personal terms and we’re pretty confident a deal will be finalised.