Liverpool 'leapfrog Barcelona in race for £51m attacker'

Liverpool have reportedly moved ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo.

The Merseyside club are set to enter a new era after bidding farewell to Jurgen Klopp following Sunday's 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Arne Slot will take over the reins from Klopp after it was confirmed on Monday that he would leave his role as Feyenoord boss to become Liverpool's new manager.

The Dutchman will be keen to bring in reinforcements to give him the best chance of hitting the ground running in the 2024-25 season.

Liverpool could be tempted to bolster their attacking options, amid uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.

Diaz and Nunez have both been linked with a move to Barcelona, while Salah could attract further interest from Saudi Arabia after being subject of a significant bid from Al-Ittihad last summer.

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Liverpool move ahead of Barcelona in Olmo race

With Liverpool on the lookout for new additions, Marca are reporting that the Reds have the edge over Barcelona in the race to sign Olmo from Leipzig.

The Reds are believed to be ahead of Barcelona due to the Catalan club's ongoing concerns about Financial Fair Play Rules.

As a result of their economic situation, Barcelona will find it difficult to raise the funds to meet Olmo's €60m (£51m) release clause.

Liverpool will still need to move quickly if they wish to get a deal done, with the player's release clause said to have a cut-off date of July 15.

Although they seem to have an advantage over Barcelona, Liverpool could still face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

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Could Olmo depart Leipzig this summer?

The Spaniard has established himself as a key player at Leipzig since joining the club from Dinamo Zagrab in January 2020.

In four-and-a-half years, Olmo has made 148 appearances for die Roten Bullen, scoring 29 goals and providing 34 assists.

Olmo was hampered by injury in the 2023-24 season, but he still managed to register eight goals and five assists in 25 matches.

Despite having a contract until June 2027, Olmo continues to be linked with a move away from the Red Bull Arena, and he could be tempted to try his luck in one of the other top five European leagues.

The 26-year-old's versatility is likely to appeal to his potential suitors, having shown that he can play on either flank, as an attacking midfielder and even as a false nine on rare occasions.