In the final days of the transfer window, Liverpool reportedly attempted a daring last-ditch bid to sign Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde for 86.5 million pounds, reports Diario AS.
With injuries to Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Reds were desperate for a midfielder.
The Uruguayan was previously linked with a move to Anfield, and it has been reported that Jurgen Klopp decided to make a move for the Los Blancos star this summer.
Liverpool reportedly made an 86.5 million bid in the final two days of the summer transfer window, but the Spanish giants rejected the offer because it was ‘brutal’ and ‘offensive,’ dismissing the possibility of selling the star at all, let alone this late in the transfer window.
Los Blancos clearly rejected the offer, despite the fact that the fee would have made Valverde the club’s second most expensive sale ever, trailing only the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018.
Valverde’s contract with Real Madrid has been extended until the summer of 2027, having only been extended last summer. The 24-year-old has gradually established himself as an important member of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad in recent seasons, making 155 appearances for the club in total, seven of which have come this season, scoring twice already.
Valverde continues to compete for a spot in the Madrid midfield with the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Dani Ceballos, though the head coach also uses him on the right wing in some games.
Klopp missed out on his target and ended up signing Juve midfielder Arthur Melo on a season-long loan with the option to buy the Brazilian for 32 million.
Liverpool have only won two games in all competitions this season, and their most recent defeat was a 4-1 loss to Napoli in the Champions League.
Due to the suspension of two league games, the Merseyside giants will not return to Premier League action until October 1 against Brighton & Hove Albion, but they will face AFC Ajax in the European Cup on Tuesday night.
