Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, and the Anfield side believe that they might be able to pick him up in a cut-price deal.
Zaniolo, rated as one of the best young players in Italy, was valued at £71 million before the suspension of the league season because of the coronavirus.
However, since then his club’s financial situation has deteriorated markedly. They posted losses of £250 million last week, and a potential takeover by new owners has stalled.
To make matters worse, they potentially face missing out on lucrative Champions League football next season – they were fifth in Serie A when the season was halted.
That means that they may be forced into a fire sale of some of their biggest assets, with Zaniolo, who has not played since December after tearing his ACL regarded as their jewel in the crown, with the Italian press reporting that Liverpool are the leading contenders to sign him.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.