Liverpool urged to sign major Man United and Chelsea transfer target - could cost £85m

Former Liverpool defender José Enrique has encouraged the Reds to sign Frenkie de Jong before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The Barcelona midfielder has found himself regularly mentioned in transfer related stories over the past few months amid interest from Manchester United.

Barca are said to be open to selling the Dutchman. His sale would help raise funds which would enable the Spanish side to register their plethora of new signings.

The Catalonian club have reportedly attached a price tag worth as much as £85 million to de Jong, a sum Manchester United have shown a willingness to match.

However, Frenkie de Jong is believed to have no interest in joining Manchester United this summer and would rather stay to fight for his place at Barcelona.

Reports do suggest that he’d consider a move to Chelsea though if the Blues were to present an acceptable offer to Barça.

But José Enrique has claimed on Twitter that his former club Liverpool should swoop in ahead of the West London outfit and sign him.

 

Enrique appreciates de Jong is “too expensive for the way” Liverpool tend to sign players but admits he’d be “top class” for the Reds.

From a purely footballing perspective, a move from Liverpool for de Jong would make perfect sense.

The 25-year-old is stylistically very similar to current Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

However, unfortunately for Liverpool, Thiago isn’t a player who is particularly dependable due to his proneness to injury.

In fact, the Spaniard has recently been ruled out for six weeks due to a significant injury to his hamstring.

Frenkie de Jong would be a much more reliable option for Jürgen Klopp in relation to the deep-lying playmaker role Thiago operates in.

Nonetheless, Liverpool likely won’t want to involve themselves in the chaos surrounding de Jong in Barcelona at the moment.

The Dutchman is believed to be owed £15.2 million by the Spanish giants as a result of the club’s financial woes.

Until that situation is resolved, clubs would be wise to steer clear of the midfielder.