Reds will need to act fast though if they wish to steal Spaniard from under Spurs’ noses.
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Liverpool are planning to hijack Tottenham Hotspur’s long-running move for coveted Valencia front man Roberto Soldado, reports the Daily Mirror.
The Reds are currently on the look-out for a new striker to replace their departing Uruguay international Luis Suarez, who has told the Merseyside giants that he wants to leave Anfield this summer to play for Arsenal.
And with Liverpool head coach Brendan Rodgers set to be armed with a transfer war chest of £50 million once Suarez’s departure to the Emirates has been confirmed, the Northern Irishman will then use those funds to steal a march on Tottenham’s own bid to bring the Spain international to White Hart Lane.
The north London club thought that they were on the verge of completing a deal to sign the 28-year-old forward after technical director Franco Baldini flew to Spain on Monday to meet with the player’s agent and the Valencia president.
However, the Liga outfit are insistent that any interested party in their skipper must first meet the full value of Soldado’s buy-out clause in his current contract at Mestalla, with Spurs’ initial offer of £22m falling short of their £26m valuation of the Spaniard.
All of which has now opened the door for Liverpool to poach Soldado, who has netted 81 goals in only 141 matches for Valencia since 2010.