Liverpool told to pay £17m for forward gem too good for second tier

Reports have emerged in recent days that Liverpool are one of the teams interested in signing Sergio Arribas.

The Almeria forward, 24, narrowly missed out on promotion to LaLiga - losing in the playoffs against Malaga.

Having scored 25 goals - and adding seven assists - across the Spanish second division season the former Real Madrid youth now appears too good for the level.

Almeria want £17m for Sergio Arribas

Liverpool would be taking a risk in recruiting a player from the second tier - but Arribas is a rare talent.

Now a report in AS has confirmed Almeria’s asking price - with the likes of Benfica and Ajax reported to be vying for the Spaniard’s signature.

Richard Hughes will have to pay more than €20m (£17m) to add Arribas to the squad - a player who usually lines up as an attacking midfielder behind a frontman for Almeria.

Almeria have got Arribas contracted until 2029 - with Real Madrid owed 50 percent of any transfer profits per a stipulation put in the deal that was concluded back in 2023.

Benfica and Ajax now want Arribas deal

“According to journalist Javier Góngora, several teams are interested in the player who came up through Real Madrid's youth academy,” the report reads.

“Benfica has initiated initial contact with Arribas' representatives in a transfer that will almost certainly exceed twenty million euros.

“The Lisbon club, which already agreed to buy Darwin Núñez from Almería in 2020, intends to sign the Madrid-born player.

“However, the Portuguese side will face competition from other European clubs. Ajax also wants to add the Almería player to its ranks.

“According to the aforementioned journalist, both Míchel and Jordi Cruyff are fascinated by Arribas, although no contact has been made yet. The Dutch club would also represent a significant step up for the striker, who has considerable interest in European football.

“In fact, Sporting Lisbon were interested in Sergio Arribas in the past, as was Como. Everything was in place to begin negotiations with Almería, but the agreement for Nico Paz's return put a stop to this move.”

Sergio Arribas: Situation summary

Sergio Arribas is a left‑footed attacking midfielder/winger who plays as Almería’s primary creative and goal threat, arriving from the second line, cutting inside from the right and finishing like a forward rather than a classic No.10.

He links transitions with short combinations, carries through traffic and has an opportunistic knack for second balls and rebounds, which underpins his impressive scoring numbers despite starting from deeper zones.

Born in Madrid in September 2001, Arribas came through Real Madrid’s academy and debuted for the first team before moving to Almería in August 2023 in search of regular senior football.

The Andalusian club bought 50% of his rights for around €6–8m, with Madrid retaining the other half and a form of first refusal, and he has since become the face of Almería’s project across La Liga and now Segunda.

He signed a six‑year deal that runs until 2029, reportedly with a €40m release clause, giving Almería strong leverage but also keeping Real Madrid heavily incentivised in any future sale due to their 50% stake.

Recent reporting suggests bids in the €20–25m range have already been turned down, hinting that Almería will either lean on the clause or demand top‑end money relative to his division.

With Arribas now top‑scoring in LaLiga Hypermotion and widely viewed as a player “too good for Segunda,” a summer move back to a top‑five league feels like a natural next step, whether via a Real Madrid re‑buy or a Premier League/continental offer that activates or nears the clause.

His versatility across the right, central and half‑spaces, plus his numbers, make him an obvious candidate for upper‑mid‑tier clubs seeking a hybrid scorer‑creator rather than a pure playmaker.