Liverpool have entered the race to sign Marco Palestra, the 21-year-old Atalanta and Italy right-back who has turned heads across Europe with his performances on loan at Cagliari this season.
TEAMtalk understands that FSG are tracking Palestra closely, viewing the versatile defender as both a short-term squad option and a long-term solution at full-back. He can operate equally well on either flank, has started 30 of Cagliari’s 31 Serie A matches this season, and has contributed one goal and four assists in the process. For a 21-year-old full-back, those are impressive numbers that go some way to explaining the level of interest he has generated.
Liverpool among suitors in Marco Palestra transfer?
The queue is long and genuinely impressive. In the Premier League alone, Newcastle United have sent scouts to watch him with Tino Livramento‘s future uncertain, while Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have all monitored his progress at various stages of the season. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have also been linked, with Bournemouth understood to have shown interest even before his loan spell began.
The competition from abroad is just as fierce. Inter Milan have identified Palestra as a top target and are prepared to push hard, though Atalanta are reportedly reluctant to sell to a domestic rival. Juventus have long-standing interest and have previously explored a deal. Barcelona have added him to their shortlist, while AC Milan, Napoli and Roma have all been linked at various points too.
What will Marco Palestra cost and will Atalanta sell?
Atalanta have placed a minimum valuation of €45m on Palestra, which reflects how seriously they rate a player they developed themselves. They are well known for extracting maximum value from academy products and will not be rushed into a sale. There is a genuine possibility they reintegrate him into their own squad when his loan ends in June, but if the right offer arrives, they are unlikely to turn it down entirely.
For Liverpool, the timing makes sense. Jeremie Frimpong has been one of the better performers in an otherwise difficult season, but the club need depth and long-term planning at full-back regardless of what happens this summer. Palestra’s ambidexterity, his comfort on the ball and his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch make him exactly the kind of modern full-back that Liverpool’s system demands. Whether they are willing to match Atalanta’s valuation in a summer where significant funds will be needed across multiple positions is another question entirely.
