Man United have £25m bargaining chip to 'hijack' Arne Slot's 'first Liverpool transfer'

Liverpool could reportedly lose the race to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili to Manchester United. As previously reported by the ECHO, the Reds are exploring a deal for the Valencia goalkeeper.

However, the signing would not be a signing for this summer, as instead the goalkeeper would be loaned out for a time before eventually taking over from Alisson Becker in the future. But so far no accord has been reached between the Reds chiefs and their Spanish counterparts.

"When things happen, we'll talk when they happen," said Valencia head coach Ruben Baraja this weekend, with his first-choice 'keeper a part of their squad for their La Liga game against Barcelona.

And now, according to The Mirror, United could yet be the 23-year-old's final destination, with Erik ten Hag and Co keen, while the player would reportedly say yes despite any personal agreement he may have made with Liverpool. With United having already fleshed out their squad with £140m worth of talent this summer, it is said that they currently possess little wriggle room to make many more signings before the window shuts.

However, the sale of Jadon Sancho, who was left out of their Premier League opening victory over Fulham on Friday night following a season-long exile last year, could hand them the funds to make a move for Mamardashvili. As for Liverpool's own efforts to sign Euro 2024 star Mamardashvili, this latest report claims both the Reds and the player's side are pushing in the hope that Valencia compromise to a £30m fee plus performance-based add-ons. But the Spanish club see his value to be £34m and are currently playing hardball.