Reports are claiming this morning that Liverpool are preparing a move for Italy Under-21 and Atalanta right-back Davide Zappacosta, despite a deal for Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne being close to completion (via the Echo).
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The Daily Express, who are referencing claims made in Italy by Gazzetta dello Sport, believe that the Reds have made contact with the Serie A side over a move for the youngster and are now awaiting a response.
Zappacosta, who was part of the Italian side that beat England’s U21s earlier this week, joined Atalanta last summer and played an important role in his new side narrowly avoiding relegation.
The Express make no mention of Clyne in their article, despite our £12.5m bid for the England international being confirmed by BBC Sport on Friday.
It’s unlikely, but not impossible that the Reds could be planning on trying to sign both players. After all, we’ve lost Glen Johnson this summer and Jon Flanagan’s continuing injury problems mean he’s unlikely to play more than a bit-part role in our upcoming campaign.
This has left Andre Wisdom and Javier Manquillo as our only recognised options for the position, assuming that Emre Can – who played there for much of last season – returns to his more natural home in the centre of midfield.
Wisdom has spent the last two years out on loan, so despite signing a new contract last month, his position within our squad remains thoroughly unclear. Manquillo barely featured during the second-half of last season, following our switch to a back three, and there have been suggestions that his two-year loan could be cut short (via the Mirror).
However, a far more likely explanation for our apparent interest is that the Italian is being lined-up as a potential back-up deal, should our move for Clyne fall through.
With other priorities still to be addressed in this transfer window – most notably a new striker – it’s unlikely that we’d spent our limited funds on two players for the same position.