LFC News: Liverpool to battle Real Madrid for  “Nigerian Sadio Mane” in summer transfer

Liverpool are reportedly looking to add quality to their squad this summer and a Nigerian star has caught their eye

Former English Premiership champions Liverpool are interested in signing Super Eagles striker Samuel Chukwueze, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigerian striker Chukwueze has shown signs of brilliance in recent years. For Villarreal, however, he hasn’t been able to consistently showcase his skills. But this season, Chukwueze has flourished under the tutelage of former Barcelona manager Quique Setien.

The 23-year-old striker has registered 13 goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances this season across all competitions. However, he raised eyebrows after his master class three weeks ago when he scored a brace against Real Madrid to help Villarreal beat them 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Chukwueze’s performance attracted attention, with strong speeches linking it to his move to the Spanish capital.

However, Real Madrid are not the only ones interested in his services. According to four four two, Liverpool are also eyeing him and could try to price him away from the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Former Reds defender Alberto Moreno is a big fan of Chukwueze. And he thinks Chukwueze plays like former Liverpool star Sadio Mane.

“He is super lively, fast; you never know where he’s going to go,” Moreno told Marca by four four two.

“He is also strong, young and defined. He looks a lot like Sadio Mane. I’ve seen both in training and they look a lot alike. “He still has a lot to learn because he’s very young, but he’s going to be an even better player than he is [now].”

Liverpool have lost some momentum in the final third since Mane left the club for Bayern Munich last summer. Chukwueze could be an excellent signing for Jürgen Klopp, but Villarreal may not want to let him go for a moment.

Also..

Manchester United have offered Liverpool a new path to Champions League qualification

Manchester United’s victory over Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final gave Liverpool a boost in the fight for qualification for Europe

It’s not often that Liverpool fans find themselves rooting for Manchester United.

And really, they probably weren’t there on Sunday when Old Trafford battled their way to the FA Cup Final with a penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley.

But a loss to the Seagulls was actually good news for the Reds. Well, at least in terms of improving their European football chances next season.

There are seven seats available for English teams. Those who finish in the Premier League’s top four are guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League after United were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla on Thursday night, raising the possibility that Erik’s side will Hag finds himself outside the top four but wins. one of the Champions League spots as Europa League winners.

At the start of the season, the team finishing fifth in the Premier League has an available place in the Europa League, with another going to the FA Cup winners. The winner of the League Cup gets a place in the Europa Conference League.

With United and FA Cup runners-up Manchester City both set to finish in the top five, this means whichever team finishes sixth will also secure a Europa League spot with the fifth team – both straight to the group stage .

And as United have already won the League Cup, the Europa Conference League berth is now poised to be handed to the team finishing seventh, as it was last year with West Ham United, who have reached the semi-finals of the competition this season.

Liverpool, of course, still harbour hopes of an unlikely top-four finish, although it would realistically require Jurgen Klopp’s side win all their remaining seven games and either Newcastle United or Manchester United suffer a devastating loss of form, given the Reds stand nine points off the Champions League berths.

But that sixth place will most likely secure Europa League qualification has bolstered their chances of a place in Europe next season while avoiding the Europa Conference League, the qualifiers of which would face a play-off round in late August.

The Reds are currently in seventh place, one point behind Aston Villa and a further two points behind Tottenham Hotspur, but with a game in hand for both and a much better goal difference. They too are due to receive both teams at Anfield in the coming weeks.

It means whatever Brighton – who are one point behind Liverpool but have two games to play – get for the rest of the season, the Reds will be in control of their own Europa League destiny – starting with West Ham on Wednesday night.