Liverpool have reportedly prepared a big-money bid for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.
The Reds have already made two midfield acquisitions this summer, by bringing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to the club.
However, after an underwhelming fifth-placed finish last season, Jurgen Klopp appears determined to strengthen even more to avoid a repeat of that disappointing campaign.
The Guardian claims that a bid of £77m is set to be put forward by Liverpool for Valverde, who now faces increased competition in the Real Madrid lineup since the signing of Jude Bellingham.
The Uruguayan international is one of a number of young recruits in the middle of the pitch for Los Blancos that have arrived in recent years.
With Bellingham's signing this summer, he joins a squad also containing Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde, as well as veterans Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
With the abundance of players in that part of the pitch, the report states that Valverde, or another of the young midfielders, could depart.
With Modric and Kroos approaching 40 though, Real are said to be reluctant to let any of their younger crop leave permanently, making a deal appear difficult for Liverpool to strike.
Valverde has been a regular for four seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu now, and his versatility has helped accommodate more of their midfielders, given that the 24-year-old can be deployed as a right-winger.
Missing out on Bellingham is believed to be the reason why Liverpool's interest in Valverde came about, with Klopp seemingly not content with just two incomings to his midfield.
The news comes as The Telegraph claims that Liverpool are willing to allow Thiago Alcantara to leave this summer.
The Spaniard joined for £20m from Bayern Munich three years ago, but recurring injury problems mean he has struggled to appear consistently in the first team.
Thiago made just 18 Premier League appearances last season, and with the 32-year-old believed to be on around £200,000 per week, it is stated that Liverpool are willing to let him leave to get that wage off the books.
While the club admits they will not be able to recoup anywhere near the fee they paid for the midfielder, they will not allow him to leave on a free transfer during this window.
Should Thiago depart, he will join a long list of players to have departed Anfield this summer, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all already out the door, as well as Roberto Firmino who completed a move to Al-Ahli this week. body check tags ::
