Liverpool will face a battle to land summer target Ashley Williams with Arsenal ready to step up their interest in the Swansea City defender.
The LIVERPOOL ECHO revealed last month that Williams, 28, is high on Brendan Rodgers’ shortlist as he looks to strengthen his Reds squad in the close-season.
The Wales captain is valued at around £12m by Swansea, with Rodgers keen to persuade Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, to sanction a deal.
Liverpool, however, value the player closer to £8m, and hope they can use his already-strong relationship with Rodgers as a tool to convince him to move to Merseyside.
Arsenal’s interest in Williams, though, is serious. Reports that the Gunners had a £9m bid rejected by Swansea in January are wide of the mark, but it is understood that they are now ready to make a formal offer, though their hopes of landing him could depend on whether or not they secure Champions League football next season.
Williams still has three years remaining on his current Swansea contract and, in a financial sense at least, the Welsh side have no pressing need to sell.
Relations between themselves and Liverpool were soured somewhat by the Reds’ pursuit of Joe Allen last summer. Swansea accused Liverpool of reneging on a written agreement not to target any of their players for a period of 12 months following Rodgers’ move to Anfield, and the Reds boss knows that Williams will not come cheap this summer.
He also knows he must convince Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, that a move for a player who will turn 29 in August fits in with the club’s policy of buying younger players with potential sell-on value.
Swans manager Michael Laudrup admitted recently that he was powerless to prevent players such as Williams leaving the Liberty Stadium for bigger salaries elsewhere.
“Ashley renewed his contract, and you can never know in football,” Laudrup said. “Sometimes an offer can come doubling your salary to play for a bigger club. You would at least think about it. It’s the same for everyone.”
Liverpool do have alternative defensive targets in mind, with Ajax’s Toby Alderweireld also earmarked.
The LIVERPOOL ECHO revealed last month that Williams, 28, is high on Brendan Rodgers’ shortlist as he looks to strengthen his Reds squad in the close-season.
The Wales captain is valued at around £12m by Swansea, with Rodgers keen to persuade Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, to sanction a deal.
Liverpool, however, value the player closer to £8m, and hope they can use his already-strong relationship with Rodgers as a tool to convince him to move to Merseyside.
Arsenal’s interest in Williams, though, is serious. Reports that the Gunners had a £9m bid rejected by Swansea in January are wide of the mark, but it is understood that they are now ready to make a formal offer, though their hopes of landing him could depend on whether or not they secure Champions League football next season.
Williams still has three years remaining on his current Swansea contract and, in a financial sense at least, the Welsh side have no pressing need to sell.
Relations between themselves and Liverpool were soured somewhat by the Reds’ pursuit of Joe Allen last summer. Swansea accused Liverpool of reneging on a written agreement not to target any of their players for a period of 12 months following Rodgers’ move to Anfield, and the Reds boss knows that Williams will not come cheap this summer.
He also knows he must convince Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, that a move for a player who will turn 29 in August fits in with the club’s policy of buying younger players with potential sell-on value.
Swans manager Michael Laudrup admitted recently that he was powerless to prevent players such as Williams leaving the Liberty Stadium for bigger salaries elsewhere.
“Ashley renewed his contract, and you can never know in football,” Laudrup said. “Sometimes an offer can come doubling your salary to play for a bigger club. You would at least think about it. It’s the same for everyone.”
Liverpool do have alternative defensive targets in mind, with Ajax’s Toby Alderweireld also earmarked.
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