Liverpool, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are reportedly in a three-horse race to sign Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer
Italian publication Calciomercato have reported that Lucas Moura is the subject of interest of Liverpool, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. The three European heavyweights are all set to make a move for the PSG winger in the summer transfer window.
Lucas has endured a topsy-turvy career as a PSG player, starting off slowly before establishing himself as a key first team player at the Parc des Princes. In fact, he has enjoyed his best campaign with Les Parisiens in 2016/17, scoring 16 goals while providing 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions.
However, the arrival of Julian Draxler has forced Lucas to share game time, with starts not coming as frequently as before the first half of the season. As a result, it is believed that the 24-year-old is looking to move to a fresh challenge in the summer, when he will have no shortage of suitors vying for his signature.
Arsenal were one of the first clubs to register an interest in Lucas, as they were eyeing him as a replacement for wantaway attacker Alexis Sanchez, who looks all set to leave the Emirates at the end of the season, as per widespread reports.
However, nothing has materialised since then, and they are no longer in the chase to sign the Brazil international. In their stead, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid have now emerged as new suitors that are lining up to sign him in the summer.
Liverpool have a serious need to sign attacking players in the summer transfer window, as Jurgen Klopp currently has just Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings for three positions.
With Sturridge set to be offloaded this summer, the Liverpool boss must recruit a quality attacking player in order to sustain challenges on four fronts next season. Lucas’ possible addition gives Klopp more flexibility should he change systems.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan are long-time admirers of Lucas’ talents having tried signing him in 2013, before PSG gazumped him for €40 million. However, with money no longer being a constraint for the Nerazzurri this time around, they are ready to make a move for him in the summer.
Inter’s Chinese owners, the Suning Group are eager to get the club back to the very top of Italian and European football next season, and are willing to spend big in order to land big name players. Lucas is one such talent, who has been identified as a long-term solution in attack.
Atletico, too, could enter the market for an attacking player in the summer, as Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Gameiro are reportedly being linked with departures from the club. Antoine Griezmann is a hot property as well and thus, Lucas is being eyed as a top quality summer addition.
The Brazilian still has more than two years remaining on his current deal with PSG, and he could command a sizable fee. But, with the player keen on a move, it will now be interesting to see which club comes out trumps in the bid to sign Lucas in the summer.
