Liverpool will have the chance to right some wrongs of last summer’s transfer window when January rolls around.
For many supporters, the biggest mistake the Reds made during the off-season was not signing a new central midfielder.
Having missed out Martin Zubimendi, there have been claims that Liverpool could yet return for the Spaniard in the winter.
Zubimendi certainly remains on Liverpool’s radar, but perhaps there is a possibility that moves could be rekindled for other former targets, too.
One of the more surprising rumours of last summer was that Liverpool almost signed Cesar ‘Chino’ Huerta from Mexican side Pumas.
Reports claimed that the 24-year-old was on the verge of a move to Anfield and Huerta himself has confirmed those claims. Ahead of the January window, it looks like Liverpool may yet get another chance to sign the Mexico international.
Cesar Huerta of Mexico controls the ball during the CONCACAF Nations League match between Mexico and Honduras at Nemesio Diez Stadium on November 1...
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Chino Huerta available for knockdown fee
Liverpool’s interest in Huerta makes little sense. Although he looks like a decent enough forward, he is now 24 and has no experience in Europe.
While that would not necessarily make him a bad addition, it simply is not the kind of signing the Liverpool owners have ever made before.
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Nevertheless, FSG certainly do love value in the market, and according to Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Huerta could be available for barely £8m in January.
“Chino Huerta has a contract until June of next year with Pumas,” Merlo says on his YouTube channel.
READ MORE: What’s likely to happen with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies after Liverpool make contact
“Pumas offered him to renew but the reality is that the player, on good terms, told them that he preferred not to do it, but that there is a committment that he will not go for free and therefore he is going to be sold in the next transfer market.
“The priority of Chino Huerta is going to play in Europe,” adds Merlo. “So, Pumas is going to try to facilitate his exit at an affordable price. I don’t want to talk figures, but imagine a price much, much lower than 10 million dollars [£7.8m].”
Could Liverpool come again for Huerta?
Merlo goes on to once more detail the deal which Liverpool tried to strike in order to sign Huerta over the summer.
“There was an offer from Liverpool who was willing to buy him and loan him to Sunderland but in the end it didn’t happen, because the Sunderland coach did not want to have Huerta,” he says.
“Huerta was willing to accept that, of course, because it was going to the Premier League, going to an important club like Liverpool.”
Appearances Goals xG Assists Shots* Chances Created* Successful Dribbles*
Chino Huerta Liga MX 24/25 17 5 6.8 4 3.18 2.51 2.57
*Per 90 mins
There were reports from Mexico at the end of the transfer window that Liverpool could return for Huerta in January.
If they do come to the table again, it sounds like there’ll be an almighty discount.
Even if the forward does not end up at Liverpool, he might be one to keep on the radar moving forward.
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