Struggling Premier League champions Liverpool travel to the capital to face West Ham United on Sunday.
The Reds have suffered nine defeats in their last 12 matches across all competitions, most recently losing 4-1 at home against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League group phase on Wednesday.
Domestically, Arne Slot’s side have lost six of their last seven Premier League games and now sit 12th in the table, below the likes of Everton and Sunderland.
Off the pitch, though, it appears that the Merseyside outfit have been handed a boost as they pursue a Bundesliga star.
According to The Athletic, via CaughtOffside, RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba’s release clause is set to drop next summer.
The French defender is said to be a target for both Liverpool and Chelsea, with his performances in the German top flight this season having attracted interest.
Lukeba has emerged on the radar of both Chelsea and Liverpool (Photo: DPA Picture Alliance Archive/Alamy)
Lukeba, 22, joined Leipzig from boyhood club Lyon in 2023 and has since made more than 80 appearances for the German side across all competitions.
The centre-back’s current contract is said to be include a release clause that is set at around £78 million, however the report claims that the clause will drop to approximately £70 million at the end of the season.
Lukeba’s current deal is set to run until the end of the 2028/29 season, but it appears that the Bundesliga side may struggle to keep hold of the player beyond next summer with clubs aware of his contract status.
As well as Chelsea and Liverpool, the report suggests that both Manchester United and Real Madrid have also been keeping at eye on the France international, who was handed his senior debut for Les Bleus last year and has now been capped six times.
Despite Real Madrid having previously shown interest in the player, the report suggests that the La Liga giants are not currently considering a move to sign him.