OPINION
Liverpool are reportedly interested in a January deal for Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, but will face intense competition for his signature.
Initial reports suggested that Manchester United were also in the hunt for Ramsey, with several overseas clubs also interested, and the latest claims suggest that it is those sides abroad which have the edge.
According to the Daily Mail, Serie A giants Juventus are now preparing a pre-contract offer for the 27-year-old, who can commit his future to an overseas club in January, with a free transfer to then take place in the summer.
The newspaper claim that should Ramsey leave the Gunners on a free transfer he will be able to demand wages around the £250,000-a-week mark, with Juve now ready to approach him with a pre-contract agreement.
The initial report from the Evening Standard suggested that Ramsey was however keen on remaining in the UK with his family, and that could give Liverpool an edge.
That being said, if rivals Juventus barge their way in with a lucrative offer for Ramsey in January, that could well convince him to head abroad with it being virtually guaranteed he would win titles in Turin.
This means that Liverpool must now pull their finger out and move swiftly for Ramsey in January if they do want to sign the Wales international midfielder.
Waiting for a free transfer in the summer could be fatal for their hopes of signing him if he is swayed by the promise of riches and trophies in Italy, and they therefore cannot afford to wait.
It is not clear how much Ramsey would cost in the January window, but an offer around £20million would certainly give Arsenal some food for thought.
And while it may seem that the club are unnecessarily spending £20million instead of nabbing him on a free, that is a seriously good price for such a talented player who could be a catalyst for a big season.
