Liverpool are going to trigger Dominik Szoboszlai’s £60million release clause as they step up his signing from RB Leipzig.
Reds officials have informed their Leipzig counterparts they are going to trigger Szoboszlai’s clause before it expires, with talks for his transfer to Anfield now at an advanced stage.
Attacking midfielder Szoboszlai has 32 Hungary caps and been tracked by a number of top European clubs, but it has always been likely he would end up in the Premier League.
Newcastle followed the 22-year-old’s progress for much of last season but have focused on other deals.
There was a £60million release clause in Szoboszlai’s contract which expired last night but Liverpool have been pushing to get the deal completed.
It would be something of a coup to land Szoboszlai, whose numbers for Leipzig last year were strong – he scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists.
He figured prominently for Hungary against England last June, as part of the team who thrashed Gareth Southgate’s side 4-0 at Molineux in the Nations League.
Liverpool have already added Argentina World Cup-winner Alexis Mac Allister for £35m from Brighton, and a move for Szoboszlai would be similarly eye-catching.
He is similar in style to Mason Mount, who was on Liverpool’s radar for months and is now headed for Manchester United, but will cost far less.
It is understood he is on around £80,000 a week in Germany but could expect a significant rise on Merseyside.
Liverpool have good relations with Leipzig after signing Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate from them.
On Friday , Fabio Carvalho went the other way on a season-long loan.
‘As a young player, it’s a big step for me to move from England to the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig,’ Carvalho told Leipzig’s website.
‘My goal is to play as much as possible, in the league, the cup and especially in the Champions League.
‘RB Leipzig have a reputation for giving young players these kinds of opportunities, which is why this is the perfect club for me to continue my development at.’
Liverpool rejected a £7.7m bid for the winger last month given they have no interest in selling him, despite interest from the likes of Burnley, West Ham, and Bournemouth.
