REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Liverpool's plans to bring in a new winger this summer have taken another twist, with a fresh name emerging as an alternative option to Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.
It's already been confirmed by David Ornstein that Liverpool are working on two separate winger signings this summer, not one - a left-sided addition, with Bradley Barcola strongly linked, and a right-sided option to compensate for Cody Gakpo's role change, with Yankuba Minteh previously the frontrunner.
REUTERS/Paul Childs
The Minteh route, however, has since cooled. Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal was called off due to Brighton's demands, with Liverpool instead opening talks for Crystal Palace's Sarr.
"Move follows Minteh deal called off due to Brighton requests," Romano explained. "LFC sent a proposal worth around £50m for the Senegal winger, who's keen on the move. Crystal Palace have already rejected two bids from Galatasaray."
The bid for Sarr has reportedly been rejected, and journalist Ben Jacobs has provided FFC with exclusive insight suggesting the Senegal star isn't the only alternative being lined up.
Liverpool considering move for Newcastle target
matias-fernandez-pardo-lille-ligue-1
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Jacobs laid out just how open Liverpool's right-wing search remains: "There are other targets that Liverpool have also considered, though. So it's not a case of Barcola plus Minteh definitively, although that might be the combination.
"It could be Barcola and Liverpool may decide to put a bid in for Ibrahim Mbaye instead, even though, to date, the price there has been too high. But he's another option. It could also be Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who has been looked at by several clubs. Liverpool haven't advanced anything yet, but he's been on their radar for quite some time.
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring their second goal with Lewis Koumas and Milos Kerkez
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring their second goal with Lewis Koumas and Milos Kerkez
"It's actually Newcastle United that are bidding for the player as it stands and seeing if they can get it over the line. And yet there isn't a massive appetite to sell as far as Lille are concerned.
"So there's a €70 million valuation (£60m) there, and it's interesting with Liverpool because you've got Fernandez-Pardo, who predominantly, at the moment, we can only really speak of as being a Newcastle target, with a 70-odd million euros valuation. Then you've got Ibrahim Mbaye, at PSG, with a 70 million euros valuation, and you've got Yankuba Minteh, with Liverpool's last bid in and around the 70 million euros mark.
It's a revealing insight into just how fluid Liverpool's right-wing search remains, with Sarr, Mbaye, Minteh and now Fernandez-Pardo all in the mix at broadly similar price points.
|||||||
Player Club Age Career games Career goals Career assists
Ismaila Sarr Crystal Palace 28 370 95 59
Matias Fernandez-Pardo Lille 21 138 26 13
Yankuba Minteh Brighton 22 134 27 20
Ibrahim Mbaye PSG 18 79 19 23
The name may be less familiar to Liverpool fans than Minteh or Sarr, but according to Jacobs, Fernandez-Pardo has quietly been on the Reds' radar "for quite some time" - even if it's Newcastle who are currently pushing hardest to get a deal done with Lille.
Fernandez-Pardo was a regular contributor in Ligue 1 last season, registering 8 goals and 5 assists in 29 appearances. His underlying numbers point to a genuine goal threat and creative spark, with 2.3 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game across the campaign.
Football journalist Andy Brassell has been among those to praise the 21-year-old's ability, highlighting his composure in congested areas of the pitch as well as his tactical versatility when speaking about Newcastle's interest to talkSPORT.
That ability to provide cover through the middle could make him an intriguing option for Andoni Iraola, who is without Hugo Ekitike due to injury while Alexander Isak is yet to really show signs of his old self in a red shirt.
With Newcastle currently the more advanced suitor and Lille reportedly holding out for their €70m valuation, any Liverpool move for Fernandez-Pardo would likely require them to go toe-to-toe with their Premier League rivals, and it wouldn't be the first time they've upset the Magpies in the transfer market.