Liverpool can't afford to lose £43m midfielder to Man City

Liverpool have had some high-profile transfer battles with Manchester City of late.

Last summer the Premier League champions came within a whisker of adding Marc Guehi on a deal worth an initial £35m.

However the England international was not permitted to leave Crystal Palace with only a year left on his contract. The Eagles changed their stance in January but by that stage it was too late for Liverpool.

Despite a centre-back shortage Richard Hughes was unwilling to furnish the total outlay for Guehi - including a transfer fee and blockbuster wage package. The 25-year-old went to City instead with Liverpool left to count the cost of a missed defender deal.

Guehi wasn’t the only player who moved to the Etihad ahead of Anfield however. Liverpool had a long and well-documented interest in Antoine Semenyo - who Hughes signed for Bournemouth back in 2023.

But when it came time for the Cherries to cash in Liverpool were no longer in the race - as the Ghana international opted for Pep Guardiola’s side.

City have strengthened where Liverpool have stood still and the Reds really cannot afford to lose a third transfer race to City.

Man City battle Liverpool for Camavinga

Ahead of the summer transfer window opening it’s being reported in Sports Boom that Liverpool and City are leading the chase for Eduardo Camavinga.

“Manchester City and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Eduardo Camavinga's signature this summer,” the report reads.

“Real Madrid are open to offers for the 23-year-old star. The Premier League is the most likely destination for the French international.”

Camavinga, 23, is an ideal fit for Liverpool right now - capable of playing No6, No8 and even left-back in a bind. Under contract with the Spanish giants until 2029 it has been reported that the midfielder is available for only £43m this summer.

Camavinga deal could cost only £43m

That is an unmissable bargain for Liverpool - given Camavinga’s outstanding qualities and progressive passing capabilities.

City’s interest could complicate things as they may well blow the Anfield club out of the water on wages. But with the club confirmed as being in the hunt for Camavinga it is now time to step up their efforts to attract him to Merseyside.

Although he’s lost his place as a starter for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side the left-footer remains one of the best midfielders in the world on his day.

He could offer Ryan Gravenberch the chance to play further forward and also be an upgrade on the one-paced Alexis Mac Allister in his own right.

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