KEY POINTS

  • Aissa Mandi has demanded a contract worth $3 million per anum
  • Mandi is set to leave Real Betis as a free agent this summer
  • Liverpool are looking to sign a fourth permanent center-back this summer

Liverpool FC are reportedly set to compete with FC Barcelona in the race to sign Real Betis defender Aissa Mandi ahead of the 2021 summer window.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is keen on signing Mandi, who could join the Anfield side on a free transfer this summer, Spanish media outlet El Gol Digital reported.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are considering Mandi as an ideal fit in their squad, considering Gerard Pique is in the twilight of his career, while Samuel Umtiti is set to be offloaded this summer, according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. The Catalans are looking to bolster their defense with Mandi and Eric Garcia, who is tipped to return to the Camp Nou side from Manchester City this summer.

Mandi is being linked with Liverpool for a year now. Before the start of the 2020-21 campaign, Mandi was expected to join Klopp’s clan as a replacement for Dejan Lovren. Following their historic Premier League title win, the Croatian defender left the Merseyside club to join Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg.

It was earlier reported that Mandi has demanded a contract worth $3 million a year, estimated to be around $45,000-a-week, which is very much within the reach of Liverpool.

Mandi has been associated with Real Betis since 2016 and has established himself as a vital cog in the team. In the underway campaign, the center-back has also contributed with three goals and two assists for the Seville-based soccer club.

Virgil van Dijk (left)was forced off injured by a late challenge from Jordan Pickford (centre)
Virgil van Dijk (left)was forced off injured by a late challenge from Jordan Pickford (centre) POOL / Peter Byrne

Liverpool’s 2020-21 season has been majorly hit by injuries. Their title defense has ended and the six-time Champions League winners have also been knocked out of the elite European tournament, after losing to Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate.

The three center-backs Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip are currently sidelined with injuries at Liverpool. Keeping that in mind, it is believed that Klopp is looking to sign a fourth permanent center-back for the Anfield side.

The German boss is also yet to decide on whether Liverpool must make Ozan Kabak’s loan deal permanent. The Turkish center-back joined Liverpool on loan from Bundesliga club Schalke during the 2021 January window.

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