Liverpool are one of the sides eyeing a January move for Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena.
Baena has been in good form for Villarreal this season, earning himself a maiden cap for the Spanish national team in September.
This has led to claims that the 22-year-old could soon be on the move from the Yellow Submarine, with AS outlining Barcelona’s plan to bring him to Camp Nou. The Catalan giants reportedly see Baena as a player with ‘Barca DNA’ and are targeting him as a new arrival.
However, they’re reportedly far from alone in their admiration for the one-cap Spain international. From the Premier League, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Arsenal and yes, Liverpool, are all said to have Baena on their respective radars.
It’s claimed that any of that quartet coming forward with an offer for Villarreal in January ‘should not be ruled out.’
In terms of a price-tag, Baena’s club reportedly inserted a £51m release clause into his contract at the start of the year. However, Marcelino’s side are said to be willing to negotiate from a starting point of around £34m.
Baena on Liverpool’s radar
On the face of it, Baena would look like a slightly odd player for Liverpool to be targeting. In the summer, when they were in need of all manner of midfielders, it would maybe have made sense.
But having filled their midfield with technically capable, versatile players it no longer rings true.
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Instead, Baena looks more like the kind of player Manchester City tend to covet. Nimble, skilful and capable of playing in different positions, there is something of Bernardo Silva about him.
According to ESPN during the summer though, Pep Guardiola wanted Baena to replace a different City midfielder: Ilkay Gundogan.
In the end, that never happened. But it’s interesting that with Gundogan going to Barcelona, Xavi also now wants to add Baena.
From a Liverpool point of view that’s all slightly irrelevant of course. The Reds don’t need to worry themselves too much about City’s transfer targets.
And unless Baena suddenly develops an unseen capability to play as a natural holding midfielder, we don’t see the Reds being in this fight either.