Liverpool transfer news: Reds target PSG stars Javier Pastore and Julian Draxler
Argentine midfielder Pastore could be bought for a modest £17m
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Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Paris Saint-Germain stars Javier Pastore and Julian Draxler.
According to the Daily Star, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is considering a “£17m January swoop” for Pastore, who is believed to be ready to leave the French team after failing to nail down a place in the starting XI.
The newspaper says that the 28-year-old Argentine midfielder, who has only started four games for PSG this season, is growing increasingly concerned that if he doesn’t get regular football in the new year, he could miss out on selection for Argentina���s World Cup squad next summer.
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Inter Milan, Roma and Sevilla are also thought to be interested in signing the South American playmaker, who arrived at PSG in the summer of 2011 in a £35m move from Palermo.
Paris are said to be willing to consider offers in the region of £17m - a modest sum considering what he cost the club six years ago, but they need the cash after forking out £200m for Neymar last summer.
However, caughtoffside claim it’s not Pastore who has caught the eye of Klopp, but rather German forward Julian Draxler.
Citing French sports daily L’Equipe, the website claims that Liverpool have “made contact” with PSG over the possibility of a loan deal in January, with a view to a permanent transfer if all goes well in the second half of the season.
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Like Pastore, the 24-year-old Draxler has not established himself as a regular at PSG, and the arrival of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe has had a detrimental effect on his career there.
The one major obstacle to an Anfield move is Draxler’s determination to make a name for himself at PSG.
L’Equipe says that he feels staying put “would be more beneficial for him than moving to Liverpool”, although Klopp may try to convince him otherwise between now and the end of January.