Julian Ward now 'monitoring' £72m-rated star for Liverpool; even Messi called him 'spectacular'

Liverpool are interested in signing Inter Milan attacker Lautaro Martinez this summer, according to a transfer rumour which emerged on Monday.

The 24-year-old has blossomed into a key performer for Inter, scoring 11 goals in just 18 Serie A starts so far this season, not to mention being hailed as ‘spectacular’ by Lionel Messi in the past.

Martinez is one of his side’s most prized assets, with Transfermarkt valuing him at a whopping £72million and his current deal not expiring until 2026.

The Argentine came up against Liverpool in the Champions League last month, and will again next week, and it looks as though a move to Anfield this summer isn’t out of the question.

According to RAI journalist Marco Conterio in an interview with Inter-News [via Sport Witness], the Reds are ‘monitoring’ Martinez ahead of a possible move:

“Inter are moving and watching many players, but they are also watching many clubs be interested in their players. One above all is Lautaro Martinez, who is very popular in England. Liverpool are monitoring him very carefully.

“Scamacca is still the name in pole; he would be the perfect profile for the Nerazzurri as a replacement for Edin Dzeko.”

While Martinez’s ability is clear to see, it seems unlikely that Jurgen Klopp would feel the need to add another attacker to his squad this summer.

The arrival of Luis Diaz means Liverpool now have five genuinely top-quality options in the final third, so it is hard to see where the Inter star would get minutes.

The only way a move for Matinez would make sense is if either Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino moved on, as the pair will be out of contract in 2023. Could Julian Ward be eyeing the Inter starlet as a Firmino replacement perhaps?

In other news, Paul Joyce