Chelsea and Liverpool have trained their sights on Belgium midfielder, Axel Witsel to shore up their midfield. The Belgian who moved to the Russian side, Zenit Saint Petersburg for an amount of €40m in the summer of 2012, has long been a target for English clubs.
The 27-year-old has one year left on his contract at Zenit Saint Petersburg and is looking for an exit from the Russian club. The midfielder joined Zenit from Benfica, and the Russian club are hoping to recoup the sum invested in the player before his contract expires.
As per reports in the Liverpool Echo, the asking price is set to be reduced to a sum of around €23m, with the player reluctant to sign an extension to his contract which runs out next year.
The Belgian midfielder, who was a part of the Belgian side which reached the quarter-finals of the Euros 2016 before losing out to Wales, is considered one of the better central midfielders in the defensive pivot position, having played there for both club and national sides.
Also Read: Scout Report – Axel Witsel - The next great midfielder in the Premier League
Chelsea already has Kante to perform the role of a destroyer. The Belgian is more solid, knowing when to keep possession and keeps the game ticking. Witsel is not the best of tackler and, in the year 2009, he was suspended by the Belgian FA for eight games after a horror tackle on Anderlecht defender, Marcin Wasilewski.
That said, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and his time under Jorge Jesus at Benfica ensured he developed into an all-round midfielder
The Belgian, if he does arrive at Anfield, will have to battle it out with Emre Can and Jordan Henderson. Klopp’s pressing style ensures that he needs an all-action midfielder and Witsel’s overall experience can be an asset to the team.
The 27-year-old was considered one of the most promising footballers and was even awarded the trophy for the best player in the Belgian League in his early years as a footballer.
The Belgian has made more than 150 appearances for the Russian Premier League champions and has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in the summer, with clubs from Serie A and Premier League interested in his signature.
