Chukwueze to Liverpool talk grows after Nigerian’s new deal

Liverpool are reportedly keen on Samuel Chukwueze and speculation that they could move for the Villarreal star is rife as he continues to take La Liga by storm. Liverpool have long been rumoured to be interested in Chukwueze, who is a former FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria.
And the 20-year-old’s profile was raised further when he won the Bronze medal with the Super Eagles at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Last week, ex-Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno claimed his teammate at Estadio de la Cerámica was quite similar in style to current Reds forward Sadio Mane.
Moreno told Marca: “He’s strong too, young, and defined. He’s a lot like Sadio Mane. I’ve seen the two in training and they’re very similar. He has a lot to learn because he’s very young, but he’ll become an even better player than he is [now].”
Chukwueze’s price-tag may have just taken him out of the bracket of quite a few clubs, however, after the pacy winger agreed on a new and improved contract at Villarreal.
The new agreement raises his release clause to €100m for the next two years, although that clause is then lowered to €80m for the third year.
His previous deal at the Estadio de la Ceramica also ran until the summer of 2023, but it only contained a €40million release clause.
Chukwueze’s valuation has steadily risen since he joined the Villarreal first-team midway through last season.
He finished the 2018-19 campaign with five goals and two assists and is already on course to surpass those figures with two goals and two assists from nine appearances this term.
Chukwueze, who was voted the best young player for club and country last season, was omitted in the final list of Golden Boy award nominees, but has recently been included in the contenders for this year’s Kopa Trophy award.
And it may not actually take 100m euros to persuade Villarreal into cutting a deal with the club known for preferring to sell their best players outside Spain.