Liverpool have reportedly made Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount their top summer target.
The Reds are expected to bolster their midfield options, with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all out of contract at the end of the season.
The Reds previously identified Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham as their main target for the summer transfer window.
However, they have decided to end their pursuit, as they are unwilling to get involved in a bidding war and allocate a large proportion of their budget to one player.
Liverpool are set to miss out on Champions League qualification, which could reduce the funds available to Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
With Bellingham set to command a fee in excess of £100m, Liverpool have decided to spend their money across multiple transfers, as they look to recruit at least two new midfielders.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Mount is now emerging as Liverpool's new priority target for the summer transfer window.
The England international has entered the final 18 months of his deal, and talks over a new contract have reached a stalemate.
Chelsea are keen to sign Mount to a seven-year deal, but the player is reluctant to agree to such a long contract.
The 24-year-old is also looking for a pay increase that would bring him in line with the highest earners at the club.
If the two parties are unable to reach an agreement in the summer then Chelsea may consider a sale rather than running the risk of Mount leaving on a free transfer in 2024.
Should the Blues decide to sanction a sale, then they will supposedly be looking to receive offers in the region of £50m.
The Chelsea academy graduate has made 192 competitive appearances for the senior side, scoring 33 goals and contributing 37 assists.
Mount's Chelsea teammate Conor Gallagher is also believed to be on Liverpool's radar, while they have also shown an interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Nunes and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch. body check tags ::
