Liverpool see bid rejected for €70m European superstar

Liverpool see bid rejected for €70m European superstar Liverpool are still settling into life under Andoni Iraola, but some obvious issues are starting to arise under the Spaniard. The Reds have been hit and miss so far this season, although they are yet to taste defeat, and the midfield has been one of the biggest talking points among supporters. Often under fire for being the route of many problems at both ends of the pitch, Liverpool's midfield has looked strained this campaign. A fresh face would have been a useful addition over the summer, but the club instead opted to let Curtis Jones go without signing a replacement. Liverpool see bid rejected for €70 million rated superstar A new report from the Transfer News Live account on X, citing Spannish outlet El Nacional, has claimed that the Reds have seen a €40 million (~£35m) bid knocked back for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong ahead of the January window. The account claims that Barca would consider selling the 29-year-old but only if their €70 million (~£65m) valuation was met. It seems unlikely that the Reds would sanction such a spend for a player who will be 30 by the end of the season, especially when you consider the club's reluctance to offer Alexis Mac Allister (27) a new contract. This doesn't mean that the two clubs won't be able to negotiate a price somewhere in between the two valuations however, and it is clear that Iraola's midfield needs reinforcing. De Jong is the same age that Thiago was when he signed for Liverpool, so there is a history of the Reds pursuing a player of the Dutchman's profile, but other options such as AS Monaco's Lamine Camara or Fiorentina's Cher Ndour may prove more cost-effective given their age. It appears a deal for De Jong would probably represent a significant outlay for a player with little resale value, so it would be a riskier move for Iraola's side. The Dutch midfielder is currently out injured and is yet to play for the Catalan giants this season, putting Barcelona on the back foot when trying to negotiate a higher fee. If Liverpool's midfield troubles persist, the club may be tempted to pull the trigger on a deal for De Jong, seeing his wealth of experience as a positive, but the 29-year-old is far from the only option the Reds' recruitment team are looking at.