Liverpool Ready To Battle Man Utd For £44m-Rated La Liga Star

With the January transfer window coming to a close, managers are frantically trying to tie-up those late deals and strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Liverpool and Man Utd are linked with Koke….

Liverpool are ready to battle-it-out with Manchester United for the signature of £44m-rated Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke next summer, according to reports.

The 23-year-old has been at Atletico his entire career having joined the clubs youth system as a child, and he’s established himself as a vital part of Diego Simeone’s starting eleven after making his debut back in 2009.

His impressive form has led to interest from some of Europe’s top clubs with Manchester United one of those reportedly keen on offering the midfielder a new challenge.

It appears the 20-time Premier League champions will now face competition as the Daily Star claim that Liverpool have entered the chase for Koke’s signature and are eyeing a summer swoop.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is on the look out for a replacement for Steven Gerrard – with the skipper set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season – and the Northern Irishman has supposedly identified Koke as the ideal man for the job.

However, its not going to be easy for either United or Liverpool to land the talented midfielder. Atletico are going to be desperate to hold on to Koke and they will more than likely demand the full value of his £44m buy-out clause.

It remains to be seen whether Rodgers or Louis van Gaal would be prepared to meet that figure but even if they did, there’s no guarantee the player will be up for the move as he recently committed his future to Atletico.

When quizzed about speculation linking him with a move, he said:

“I see life in red and white.

“I am happy here, the club is growing and I grow with it. I don’t see the time or the place to leave here.” Koke is quoted as saying by the Star

Judging by these comments, it sounds as though Koke is settled at Atletico, but things can change quickly in football so you never know, he could be tempted by a move to the Premier League if the money was right.

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The likes of Filipe Luis and Diego Costa both swapped Atletico for England last summer so who knows, Koke could be next and it sounds like United and Liverpool will be ready to battle it out for his signature at the end of the season if he does want a new challenge.