Liverpool and Tottenham want to beat Barcelona for Leon Goretzka
Barcelona’s decision to wait for Leon Goretzka’s Schalke contract to expire could come back to haunt them. Their delay has opened the door for Liverpool and Tottenham to join the race for the talented German midfielder.
Reports from Spain claim that Barcelona still are planning a summer swoop, but the Spanish giants are getting a bit nervous about their competition. While Bayern Munich have dropped out of the race to sign Goretzka, Liverpool and Tottenham have only strengthened their interest. It’s shaping up to be an interesting recruitment process.
Each potential club has a clear need for a player with Goretzka’s quality. Not only does he have the requisite talent to play for a big European club, he’s also a perfect stylistic fit for each of the three.
Barcelona’s need to get younger in the midfield is no secret. Andres Iniesta continues to play at a reasonably high level, but Ernesto Valverde needs to get younger and more athletic in the middle of the pitch. Paulinho has given the Barcelona boss some much-needed energy, but he’ll need more help to get the club back to the heights they’re accustomed to occupying.
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Liverpool have at least as much room to improve in the middle of the pitch. The Reds risking Emre Can this summer which would leave them with a gaping hole in midfield. Even with Can in the lineup, Jurgen Klopp’s side has looked soft in their defensive middle. Adding Goretzka to the mix could help turn that weakness into at mild strength.
Mauricio Pochettino is eyeing Goretzka as a potential long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele. The talented Belgian continues to suffer from a myriad of injury issues. That makes it very difficult for Spurs to count on him to play big minutes over long stretches of time. The acquisition of Goretzka would likely spell the end of Dembele’s days as a frequent starter for Tottenham.
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In the end, you still have to like where Barcelona sit in this transfer race. They are one of the world’s most glamorous clubs and they have money and playing time to offer Goretzka. It’s possible either Klopp or Pochettino can use their engaging personalities to steal the midfielder away from Barcelona, but it’s not very likely.