Liverpool ready to POUNCE as Barcelona fumble Lamine Yamal contract talks

Liverpool are ready to pounce if Barcelona’s contract negotiations with Lamine Yamal fall apart. The Reds, along with Manchester City, have been tipped as suitors for the teenage superstar, whose current terms expire in 2026.

That’s according to a report in Mundo Deportivo, which nonetheless claims that Barca are relaxed about the way talks are currently progressing.

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Yamal, 17, is expecting to become one of the highest-paid players at Camp Nou and his new contract should extend his terms at the club until 2030.

But there are sufficient signs of encouragement for Liverpool - and City for that matter - to keep tabs on the situation.

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Right now Barca are not in compliance with LaLiga’s so-called 1:1 rule, meaning clubs can reinvest every euro from sales or salary savings on new signings and new contracts.

Barca in Yamal contract mess

Owing to complications regarding attempted VIP seat transactions, Barca have lost out on an estimated €100 million income.

If the situation doesn’t change, they won’t be able to spend any more on salaries without significant reductions in costs.

However, the club remain confident of restoring those sums by the end of May. At that stage they would again be able to enter into talks with Yamal over improving his contract.

However, there is also the issue of alleged broken promises to Yamal’s agent, Jorge Mendes.

Reports suggest the Portuguese super-agent was let down by Barca’s deals for his clients Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix - where promises to the Portugal pair never materialised.

Barca plan to finalise the contract in the middle of July, when Yamal turns 18 and becomes eligible to sign a long-term deal.

Liverpool monitoring Yamal talks

Mundo states that the player’s priority is to REMAIN with his boyhood club but wants a contract to reflect his growing prominence in the team and in the international game.

The Spain international - widely tipped to win the Ballon d’Or one day - became a Euro 2024 champion the day after his 17th birthday.

This season he has been in imperious form as Barca aim to fight off Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for the Spanish crown.

He has also been prominent in the Champions League and Copa del Rey for treble-chasing Barca, delivering on his potential as one of the emerging superstars in the game.

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Barca’s financial crisis could yet drive out one of their brightest prospects and Liverpool - seeking a long-term right-wing replacement for Mohamed Salah - will be waiting should that happen.