World Cup hero ‘chooses’ new club in fresh Klopp blow with Liverpool failing to ‘tick all the boxes’ | OneFootball

Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat currently favours a move to Atletico Madrid despite interest from Liverpool, according to reports.

Amrabat shone for surprise package Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.

The North African nation became the first side from the continent to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, going one better than Ghana in 2010, Senegal in 2002, and Cameroon in 1990.

There has been lots of interest in several Moroccan players in the wake of their epic performances in Qatar.

Azzedine Ounahi has been linked with Leeds United and Napoli, much has been said about Hakim Ziyech’s future at Chelsea, and a few clubs are believed to be interested in signing Amrabat

Liverpool are in dire need of midfield reinforcements and may look to improve their squad in the winter transfer window.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is reportedly the Reds top target, but a transfer is not expected to materialise this month.

Someone like Amrabat is a lot more attainable in January. Having said that, Fiorentina will not roll over given the fact they paid close to £20million to sign him from Hellas Verona three years ago.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were best known for their energetic, heavy metal, midfield, though this position has been their weakness in 2022-23.

Arthur Melo, Thiago, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita are very injury prone, James Milner is clearly past his best, Harvey Elliott is promising but still very young, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones are evidently not good enough.

The signing of Amrabat would certainly inject some energy into Klopp’s midfield, however, a fresh report claims the player is not particularly tempted by a move to the Premier League side.

A December report from the same outlet stated that Amrabat did prefer a move to Anfield amidst interest from Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.

It is said that Atletico now need to work out a transfer fee with Fiorentina.

The 26-year-old ‘has had many requests’ over the past few weeks with lots of clubs interested.

Despite talks with Liverpool, Amrabat ‘has a completely different preference’ with the sporting project at the Wanda Metropolitano proving to be very ‘appealing’.

Amrabat believes Atletico ‘tick all the boxes’ for him, and given his physical style of play, he is probably right.

During the World Cup, the Fiorentina star actually flirted with the idea of moving to the Spanish capital, telling Marca: “What Simeone does, what he achieved… He coached Atletico de Madrid for many years.

“I like his style of play. He won a lot and I have a lot of respect for him. The players on your team are physically strong and aggressive. I like to play that way.”

Amrabat actually has ‘higher offers’ coming from the Premier League and Fiorentina have attempted to renew his contract which is set to expire in 2024.

Unfortunately for Atletico – ‘who do not have a very big budget’ – the Florence side are being ‘greedy’ in their valuation of the player.

‘Amrabat has made his choice’ it is said, meaning Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp probably needs to look elsewhere.