Liverpool’s reported interest in Getafe striker Riki will only be successful if the Reds meet the full amount of the player’s buy-out clause.
The president of Getafe, Angel Torres, says his start player will not be sold for any less than the reported £4m stated in his contract. Scoring four goals so far this season, Riki has helped Getafe get to the top of the Primera Liga, and now Liverpool have been linked with a move for him. The player is capable of both scoring and playing out wide, two assets Rafa Benitez has been hunting for this season. Today’s win at home to Blackburn was by a single goal against ten men, and numerous chances were missed by the three strikers Rafa used. Although Zenden helped to improve Liverpool’s wide play today, Rafa still wants to improve in that department.
Deportivo La Coruna tried to buy 25-year-old Riki during the close-season, but weren’t able to match the money demanded by his club. According to Torres, Liverpool haven’t yet made any official move for him: "We realise Liverpool or any big club could want Riki, but nobody has officially spoken to us. I don’t know if they have spoken to his agent. I have to say that not Liverpool nor anyone are going to get him for 4million euros – they have to pay his buy-out clause."
Torres was speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, and there’s every chance that Liverpool aren’t even interested in the player. Rafa’s name is often used in Spain now by clubs and players to increase bids for players. Torres has no need to speak to Marca about the player’s possible move away from the club, so perhaps he needs that £4m for the purchase of players elsewhere on the park. He says of Riki: "He is an adaptable striker who is in the news and it would be a shame for us to lose him, but it’s obvious that if someone pays his buy-out clause and he wants to go then there is nothing we can do about it. I am not surprised Liverpool may want him because he is in incredible form at the moment. Liverpool have scouts here and all over the place."