Sources: Liverpool could smash transfer record to sign Rayan next year
Liverpool could break their transfer record to sign Bournemouth star Rayan next summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The 20-year-old is strongly admired at Anfield, not least by Andoni Iraola, and has a £130million release clause in his contract which will become active in 2027.
Liverpool have not been shy of spending big in recent years, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola all signed for over £100million.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Rayan could be their next big-money signing, although he is unlikely to arrive in the near future.
Liverpool have been keen to sign a new right-winger since Mohamed Salah's departure in June, but missed out on their key targets during the summer transfer window.
As a result, they could turn their attentions towards Rayan as a long-term target, but the Reds and his other suitors could struggle to match his lofty release clause.
Could Liverpool make a move to sign Rayan?
Football Insider revealed on 11 September that Liverpool have set their sights on a move for Rayan, with Iraola set to play a key role in any deal they do in the future.
The 20-year-old has caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs since his arrival at the Vitality Stadium last summer and is now being closely monitored.
After the news broke of a release clause in his contract, clubs are likely to have been placed on alert, but there are question marks about whether Liverpool will pay £130million.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "Well there's obvious links between Rayan and the Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola after their time at Bournemouth.
"We know that Rayan has this release clause which becomes active next summer. It's for £130million, so it's a pretty hefty release clause.
"I don't think Liverpool will be willing to pay that, but they've shown in the past that they will pay big money for top targets as they have done for Isak, Wirtz and Barcola recently.
"That release clause would probably be a bit expensive for Liverpool and a number of the other clubs interested in signing Rayan.
"But I'm sure he is a player that's on their list because of the obvious links between the manager and the player as well, and maybe they could make a move in the future."
Which other wingers are on Liverpool's radar?
Rayan is not the only winger on Liverpool's radar as things stand, and should they be deterred by his lofty price tag, they could turn their attentions elsewhere.
Iraola's side made moves to sign Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh in the closing stages of the transfer window, but saw both offers rejected.
However, Football Insider revealed on 5 September that Liverpool could return with a new offer to sign Minteh in the January transfer window.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has already hinted at a deal still being alive for him to move to Merseyside in January, with the Reds closely monitoring his return from injury.
Despite having completed the big-money signing of Bradley Barcola on deadline day, the opposite flank remains a priority for Liverpool ahead of the 2027 transfer windows.