Manchester City is reportedly ready to pip Liverpool and a host of several top European clubs eyeing a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson come the summer.
Sky Sports Germany has reported that City boss Pep Guardiola is keen on the 20 year old talent, with “initial talks” already taking place between the Premier League title-holders and the German outfit.
It is unclear if Liverpool would match City’s bid for Larsson, giving the impressive performances of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield this season. Curtis Jones has also caught the eye under Arne Slot this term.
However there are doubts over the future of Wataru Endo, who has struggled for regular opportunities. It was reported last week that Frankfurt is actually keen on the Japanese international and could make a move, if it secures Champions League qualification.
And that could potentially open the door for Liverpool to initiate talks over Larsson with the Bundesliga outfit. Marseille is also said to be keen on Endo, having had a bid rejected last summer.
Securing Larsson’s services at the season’s conclusion won’t be easy, as the 2022 Europa League victors are expected to hold out for a hefty fee of around $65 million. Larsson, capped eight times by Sweden, has played a pivotal role in Frankfurt’s campaign, missing only one match out of their 27 Bundesliga fixtures.
He has notched three goals and as many assists, helping Dino Toppmoller’s squad charge towards Champions League qualification.
(Image: Getty Images)
Contracted with Frankfurt until 2029, Larsson is also drawing interest from within Germany, and from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.
In preparation for the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup, Premier League clubs gave the nod earlier this week for the summer transfer window to kick off from June 1, ending on June 10. This arrangement allows teams to strengthen their roster in anticipation of the competition.
With City and Chelsea confirmed as the Premier League’s representatives in the month-long affair stateside, they could conceivably secure Larsson ahead of the new-look, expanded 32-team event. After swinging shut on June 10, the window will briefly resume on June 16 and remain open until Monday, September 1.
In January, City splashed out nearly $260M to bolster Pep Guardiola’s squad, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khuasnov and Nico Gonzalez to the Etihad.
