Liverpool chiefs may have inadvertently received a major transfer market boost for four rumored summer targets – as arch rivals Manchester United failed to win the Europa League final.
The Red Devils had an opportunity to save their season in the showpiece in Bilbao, only to fall to a 1-0 defeat against domestic rivals Tottenham Hotspur. This wounding loss compounded the misery at Old Trafford this campaign, with the 20-time Premier League champions currently languishing in the bottom half of the table.
Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, Liverpool’s old foes are on course for a worst top flight finish since relegation in 1974. Having lost in the Europa League final, United’s key actors in the board room will be ruing the failure to secure qualification for the Champions League for next term too.
The defeat against Spurs confirmed that the club will be without European football altogether next season, meaning it will miss out on major revenue streams as a result.
With eight domestic rivals having qualified for continental competitions ahead of the new term, it remains to be seen whether United’s plans for recruitment will be affected in the coming months.
Addressing the subject after defeat in Bilbao, manager Amorim confessed: “We have two plans for the market and we have to understand it is tough for a club like ours not to be in the Champions League.
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“But we have to use the other side. We have more time to work during the week on the Premier League and that will be our focus. It’s in the future, I’m not going to talk about the future. This loss, the pain of losing this match.”
Below, Liverpool.com has compiled a list of rumored targets that Manchester United could well miss out on this summer at Liverpool’s expense…
Adam Wharton
According to TEAMtalk, the England international Adam Wharton has been on the radar of Old Trafford chiefs for “several months”. However, the midfielder – who was instrumental in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph – is attracting interest from Liverpool, according to the Daily Mail.
(Image: Getty Images)
Xavi Simon
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United has been keeping tabs on the availability of the Dutch international Xavi Simons. The RB Leipzig midfielder, aged 22, is also said to be a long-term target for Liverpool, meaning that United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League could end their hopes of securing the ex-PSG ace’s services.
Viktor Gyokeres
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres is most likely to end up at Arsenal this summer, not least due to their lack of options in attack currently. Having scored a staggering 39 goals in 33 league games this campaign, the Swede is also attracting interest from Liverpool and both Manchester clubs – United may now be at the back of the queue.
Rayan Cherki
Finally, it appears that Manchester United recruitment chiefs have earmarked Lyon’s Rayan Cherki as a potential recruit this summer. While, Florian Plettenberg confirmed on X he is not a “priority for Liverpool”, with their sights set on Florian Wirtz, this could feasibly change if the Reds are beaten to his signature by frontrunners Bayern Munich.
