The £43m transfer no-brainer swoop Liverpool must complete for Euro 2024 star
The Reds are being linked with a raid for a highly-rated continental starlet
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? In the case of Real Madrid and their attacking options, potentially. The champions of Europe boast, to be blunt, a stacked roster of forward-thinking talent already, and their seams are about to grow evermore bursting.
This summer will finally see the arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish capital, while Brazilian sensation Endrick will also complete his long-awaited transfer from Palmeiras. The pair will enter a dressing room that already houses the likes of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, among others. And it is in this glut of unspecified also-rans that sacrifices may have to be made.
The understanding, as per continental reports, is that Madrid will very probably offload at least one attacking player over the coming weeks, and a prime candidate for an exit could be Turkish teen Arda Guler. The starlet has made headlines in recent days following a stunning strike in his nation’s Euro 2024 group stage opener against Georgia earlier in the week, but could be deemed surplus to requirements at club level - especially following this influx of elite talent.
Still, one man’s hand-me-downs is another man’s treasure, and it is in this context that Liverpool are reportedly considering a swoop for the versatile playmaker. It is suggested that the Reds could look to make Guler the first signing of the Arne Slot era, and in doing so, lay down a serious statement of their intent under the Dutchman.
It is no secret that Liverpool are likely to be in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer, and there are few young players in European football as highly-rated as the Turk. That being said, even considering the likelihood of a fire sale in Madrid, it remains to be seen if Guler is genuinely available or not.
The 19-year-old only signed for Real last July, and has since scored six goals in just 10 La Liga outings at a rate of one strike every 63 minutes. Whether that is the kind of promising presence that the Spanish giants would be willing to simply cast side is uncertain, and there are claims from some quarters that a loan agreement may be a more realistic option for any prospective suitors, but if there was a chance that Liverpool could swoop for Guler, then surely they would have to try and take it.
To that end, reports earlier in the year suggested that a fee of around £43 million could be enough to tempt Real into a permanent sale. Again, the veracity of that figure is debatable, but at the present moment in time, it is the most we have to go on.
If it is accurate, however, then this becomes something of a no-brainer. For a relative steal, the Reds could secure themselves one of the most exciting young players in world football, capable of operating through the centre or out on the wing, and with a ceiling of potential that could Slot and his side reap the rewards of their investment for years and years to come. If Real can be convinced, Liverpool have to make it happen.