Liverpool's Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino warms up prior to enter the pitch during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Atalanta Track Liverpool Outcast and Two More Wingers

Atalanta have big plans for their frontline and have set their sights on Takumi Minamino and two more talented attackers, Nantes’ Ludovic Blas and Hajduk Split’s Stipe Biuk. The last one is the most affordable. La Dea wants to see whether they could reach the other two before eventually stepping up their efforts to sign the Croat, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

The Japanese international is likely to leave Liverpool considering his limited role and the recent addition of Darwin Nunez. He has logged 22 appearances across all competitions in the recent campaign. He still managed to bag ten goals. The Reds ask for €20M for him, The Daily Mail relays.

Atalanta are competing with Olympique Lyonnais and especially Monaco to capture Minamino, The Times reports. A few Premier League sides are eyeing him as well. His wages are at the edge of what the Bergamaschi usually pay for their top players.

Blas carries a similar price tag following two great seasons in a row. He tallied 26 goals and 10 assists in 80 matches in total. Instead, Biuk could transfer for around €6M. The 19-year-old has hit the net 4 times and set up 6 teammates in 46 games with Hajduk Split.

Our Take on Atalanta Eyeing Minamino, Blas and Biuk

The odds are usually against the Orobici spending big for their purchases. It remains to be seen whether that will change after the partial takeover by Stephen Pagliuca, which might give them more economic ammunition. Having signed Jeremie Boga in January, they are looking for another winger to pair up with him and likely rely more on 4-2-3-1 or a purer 3-4-3. Biuk would be the more typical acquisition, while Blas has the kind of versatility they generally like. The Liverpool wantaway might turn out to be too pricey.