His play has caught the attention of Liverpool FC scouts, and the two clubs are discussing a possible transfer, according to the Metro.
“He now looks certain to leave the Florence-based club at the end of the season and interest in him is already growing,” the report says. “According to reports in Italy, Liverpool are among the teams keen on the versatile 28-year-old, who can play anywhere on the left flank.”
In six seasons in Italian soccer, Vargas has impressed with his combination of skill and toughness. He moved from Colon in his native Peru to Catania Calcio in 2006. Two years later, he made a smooth transition to Fiorentina, where he became a mainstay in the first team.
He has played 173 Serie A games, and regularly appears in the assist column. His standout performances in the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League put him on the radar of bigger clubs like Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Liverpool can certainly afford a fee of around £10 million ($15.8 million) to pry him loose from the Italian club. But the Reds have invested twice that amount in Stewart Downing, so it is unlikely they will spend big on a player who plays the same position. Vargas could also be used as cover for Jose Enrique, but it’s unlikely he would move to a new team and country to become a squad player.
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Thumbnail photo via Flickr/uefacl2009
