Liverpool have been handed a boost in their search for a second midfield signing of the summer, having been told that Dominik Szoboszlai prefers them over fellow suitors Newcastle United.
The club's sole signing this summer has been Alexis Mac Allister, just nine days before the first squad members are due to reconvene at the AXA Training Centre for pre-season, leading to intense speculation over anyone else will be joining him.
Szoboszlai is the latest name linked, however the Reds must act quickly to activate his due-to-expire release clause and face stiff competition from Newcastle, who hold the advantage of having Champions League football next campaign.
However, despite that bargaining chip, German defender-turned-journalist for the Leipziger Volkszeitung, Guido Schafer, has stated that no matter what the midfielder prefers the move to Merseyside.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer target left on crutches as Reds suffer blow to plans
READ MORE: Liverpool players begged Jurgen Klopp to sign forward and £60m deal could be next
Speaking to the Anfield Wrap, Schafer said: "He [Szoboszlai] wants to leave." He said, ‘I want to make the next step’, and he loves the Premier League.
"If he can choose between Champions League with Newcastle and Europa League with Jurgen Klopp, he will choose Klopp and the Europa League. That's for sure.
"This [Liverpool] is an outstanding club and the best manager in the world. For me, it’s very, very true that Szoboszlai wants to go to Liverpool, not Newcastle, not Man City."
However, Schafer's promising statements were left with one final catch.
“He wants to go to Liverpool, but I think it’s a financial problem,” said Schafer, who played with Klopp at Mainz.
Szoboszlai has been dubbed 'a player of interest' for Reds, adding to a shortlist that already consists of Khephren Thuram, Romeo Lavia, Ryan Gravenberch, Gabri Veiga and Manu Kone.
Szoboszlai's release clause is currently set at €70m (£60m) with conflicting reports of when it is actually due to expire. On top of this, former club RB Salzburg are in line for a 20 percent sell-on fee.
