Liverpool are drawing up an opening offer for Assan Ouedraogo as they look to beat Manchester United and Newcastle United to the RB Leipzig star, though their bid could fall well short of his valuation, as per a report.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United need to make at least one midfield signing this summer. Earlier on Tuesday, United were tipped to sign three midfielders to replace departing pair Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones are both weighing up their futures at Liverpool. Liverpool are chasing Adam Wharton to strengthen their midfield ranks, though Ouedraogo is another option.
German outlet Fussball Daten report that Germany’s ‘new physical giant’, 6ft 3in midfielder Ouedraogo, is being ‘pursued’ by Liverpool and Newcastle.
The Germany international will emerge ‘at the centre of the European transfer market’ this summer amid his great displays in Leipzig’s midfield.
Ouedraogo is considered a ‘perfect profile’ by top scouts thanks to his ‘dribbling skills, agility in tight spaces, playmaking qualities and improved xG’.
Liverpool are planning a ‘physical revolution’ in midfield and are ‘preparing’ an opening proposal worth €40million (£34.5m).
The report adds that Leipzig will consider selling Ouedraogo for €45-50m (£39-43m), though we understand he could move for a much bigger sum.
Liverpool’s willingness to go as high as €80 million reflects the club’s belief in the teenager’s elite potential — a figure that matches the €80-100m (£69-86m) valuation Leipzig placed on him in March, when they described him as a world-class talent in the making.
Our sources state that Man Utd are ‘crazy’ about Ouedraogo, teeing up a potential transfer battle with Liverpool.
Chelsea are also tracking the teenager’s development as part of their strategy of signing the best young players around.
Ouedraogo a long-term Premier League target
Ouedraogo has been linked with a move to the Premier League ever since he first broke through at Schalke aged just 17.
He quickly earned comparisons with Paul Pogba as he is tall yet has brilliant technical ability in midfield.
Interestingly, Ouedraogo is not the only midfielder Newcastle have been linked with, as reports suggest they are also admirers of Liverpool’s own Jones.
The Scouser is open to leaving Anfield this summer to pick up more starts, and Newcastle see him as a potential replacement for Sandro Tonali.
The latter has been linked with both United and Manchester City but is prioritising a return to Italy with Juventus.
This summer’s midfield scramble is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing battles in the Premier League transfer window. Liverpool, under Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, are clearly signalling their intent to overhaul the engine room with younger, more dynamic and physically dominant profiles. Ouedraogo fits that blueprint perfectly: a 19-year-old who already performs like a senior international yet still carries the upside of a future Ballon d’Or contender.
Whether Liverpool’s opening €40m bid is merely a starting point or a lowball that forces Leipzig to dig in remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Reds have thrown down the gauntlet — and Manchester United, Newcastle and Chelsea are now on notice. The race for one of Europe’s most coveted young midfielders has officially begun.