RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Liverpool can make a move for 80-goal sensation, Euro giants have just slashed his price
For now, it's unclear what Liverpool's first-team squad is going to look like when they face Newcastle United on 23 August.
The Reds are set to face their rivals in their opening Premier League game of the season in a match which should be a decent watch.
Neither club have really had the best summer transfer window with the Magpies losing almost all of their key players.
And, to be fair, seeing Liverpool without Mohamed Salah among their ranks is also going to be a bit of a shock.
However, since no successor to the Egyptian King has been signed yet, several different players are being mooted as potential options for Liverpool to explore.
but, that could be about to change.
AC Milan now only want €40 million - €50 million for Rafael Leao
The transfer market is very inflated at the moment.
A couple of players have already been sold for over £100 million a piece with attackers seeming particularly hard to come by.
Indeed, there are a lot of left-wingers on the market with some of them able to play anywhere across the front three but, for an out-and-out right-winger it feels like the best options for Liverpool have just passed them by.
Whether it was Antoine Semenyo , Michael Olise or Yan Diomande, none of the right-wingers that Liverpool have wanted to bring in over the last 18 months have chosen L4.
This has forced Richard Hughes to cast his net a bit further which is what led him to Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.
However, thanks to a fresh update from Sky Italy journalist Gianluca di Marzio , the Reds could have another trick up their sleeve.
"Peppe Di Stefano took stock of Rafael Leao's situation at AC Milan," he wrote.
"Yesterday, a meeting took place between the Rossoneri management and the Portuguese player's agents. The meeting highlighted the idea of parting ways this transfer window , even for a fee lower than €50 million and closer to €40-45 million.
"However, this is a major operation and, if an offer that would satisfy Milan doesn't arrive, Amorim would still find him a place on its roster."
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Rafael Leao could be an interesting option for Liverpool to explore
A couple of years ago, if you'd have told clubs that they'd be able to sign Rafael Leao for around €40 million, they'd have snapped your hand off.
However, thanks to injuries and a couple of less than ideal seasons, AC Milan are now struggling to sell the Portugal international to anyone.
From the start of the summer transfer window, it was €50 million or nothing but, since no resolve has been laid out yet the Serie A outfit are running out of options to offload him.
And, since Liverpool's deal for Barcola still hasn't been ironed out yet, there's no reason why they shouldn't throw their hat into the ring for him.
Since joining AC Milan, Leao has bagged 80 goals across all competitions and, while he only scored 10 last term, the fact that he played as a left-winger and a striker means that he could be the perfect replacement for Cody Gakpo .
Not only is he much younger than Gakpo but he's also got plenty of experience and, as long as he can keep fit, he could end up being a real asset to whichever team he chooses to join.
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