The video will start in 8 Cancel

Who do Liverpool need to sign to retain the title? Keep up with all the Reds news with our free daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool's hope to persuade Atletico Madrid to part with Jan Oblak this summer looks doomed.

Reds chiefs had earmarked the Slovenian international as their No.1 target between the sticks this summer, as they look to strengthen between the sticks.

The 25-year-old has been outstanding for Atletico since arriving in the Spanish capital as Thibaut Courtois' replacement in 2014.

His record since is nothing beyond remarkable, with Oblak having kept a staggering 93 clean sheets in 162 games for the Spanish club.

This season he conceded just 28 times in 49 games for Atleti, as they finished runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga and won the Europa League.

(Image: 2018 Getty Images)

His contract at the Wanda Metropolitano runs for for three more years, but Liverpool made an enquiry to the Spanish club over whether he would be available this summer.

However, Atleti's response was a price in excess of £80million, believed to be the release clause in his contract.

Liverpool will simply refuse to pay that figure - more than double the current world record fee for a goalkeeper.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Sources within Anfield have also suggested a deal with Roma for their other chief target Alisson will also be “hugely difficult” to complete.

That is due to the Italian club's determination to squeeze out a massive fee after being criticised for selling Salah too cheaply.

That may well force Liverpool to move on and look elsewhere, with Southampton's Alex McCarthy a possible alternative, though even that would be complicated.