Liverpool are hoping to beat their fierce rivals to the signing of Carlos Baleba, according to reports from the Daily Briefing.
The Reds are building a team who can dominate in the years to come and have identified central midfield as a position that they are looking to improve on.
After winning the Premier League title last term, Arne Slot's side are sitting fourth in the table with work to do if they're going to catch league leaders Arsenal before the end of the campaign.
With work to do, they could be forced to go big in the transfer market once again next summer in order to make sure that they're ready to challenge on all fronts next term.
Liverpool Hope To Beat Rivals To Baleba Deal
Carlos Baleba during a Brighton & Hove Albion pre-match warm-up
Liverpool are hoping to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton, as per reports from the Daily Briefing. The 'phenomenal' central midfielder could cost around £86million as the Seagulls look for top dollar one of their most talented stars.
The Reds join Manchester United and Tottenham in the hunt for the 22-year-old, who has scored four goals in 96 games for Brighton.
A move to Anfield would undoubtedly be tempting. However, it remains to be seen where he would fit into Arne Slot's plans. As for Man United, they have made no secret of their interest.
Man United Yet To Hold Talks Over Baleba Deal
carlos baleba
Manchester United's interest saw them hold talks via intermediaries over a deal to sign him in the summer, but the Seagulls rebuffed them as they looked to hold on to their star man.
Sky Sports reported on Friday night (2 Jan) that there had been new talks between the clubs over a deal to take the player to Old Trafford this month, but Brighton's CEO Paul Barber played down those claims on talkSPORT.
He said: "No call from Old Trafford. No call from anyone connected to Manchester United.
"We have no plans or desire to sell Carlos [Baleba] in this window, or in any future window, but we know he's a talented player and he's got a lot of options ahead of him in the future.
"For us right now, he's an important player in the second half of the season, and we're looking forward to getting him back from AFCON."
With Baleba away with Cameroon at AFCON, his future is unlikely to be decided until the summer when a number of suitors will battle it out for his signature.
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