Ansu Fati's 'absolute priority' as Liverpool circle

Stuart Telford

• 19 Nov 2023 11:10 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool are among a host of Premier League suitors for Ansu Fati, but the player wants to prove himself at Barcelona at the end of his loan spell with Brighton.

Ansu was allowed to leave Camp Nou on loan in the summer, with the club no longer able to guarantee first-team football to their academy graduate.

Their hope was that he would put himself in the shop window with a string of good performances at Brighton, and he has begun to do exactly that with four goals and an assist across 12 games in the Premier League and Europe League.

READ: Barcelona want Ansu to succeed at Brighton so they can sell him high

Now valued at €29.9 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, Ansu could command a significant fee for his cash-strapped parent club, and Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all expressed an interest.

Ansu to replace Salah?

Liverpool's need could prove greatest if they lose Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League next summer, but it appears the winger himself has other ideas.

"The Blaugrana youth player simply sees this season as an interim step," reports Sport's Luis Miguelsanz. "His absolute priority is to return to Barca, where he believes he can earn a spot given the poor performance of their attacking players this season."

READ: Liverpool find 'Salah heir' as Saudi Pro League rumours build

Barcelona won La Liga last season but find themselves in third this term behind Real Madrid and surprise league leaders Girona, with Ansu's competition thus far mis-firing.

Robert Lewandowski remains their top scorer with seven goals in 11 games, but first-choice wide men Ferran Torres and Raphinha have only contributed to three goals each, and it is understood Barca would listen to offers for the latter.

Ansu was previously considered the brightest La Masia graduate since Lionel Messi, but a knee injury derailed his progress at Camp Nou, and the No.10 jersey he inherited from the Argentine was failing to sell in club shops.