Liverpool could reportedly sign LOSC Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba if they were to make an offer of €30m (£25m) for the teenager.
According to L’Equipe, the Ligue 1 side have named their price for the 19-year-old prospect amid growing interest in Baleba, with Brighton & Hove Albion interested in the midfielder to replace Moises Caicedo.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Liverpool are also keeping tabs on the Lille wonderkid, with Football Transfers earlier this year comparing Baleba to French international Paul Pogba.
Whilst Brighton remain the strong favourites to sign Baleba, Liverpool could make a move themselves given how little Lille are now asking for this summer.
Indeed, the Reds are desperate to sign a holding midfielder having missed out on Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea, and Baleba could be an ideal addition, with Brighton’s interest something of note.
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Liverpool should hijack Brighton’s move for Baleba
Brighton’s scouting department is one of the best in all of Europe and one that has led the Seagulls to become essentially self-funded through players they have signed from across the planet.
And with the south coast side interested in Baleba, Liverpool might be wise to try and hijack the deal with Brighton keen on signing the Lille teenager.
Although Baleba might not be ready yet to represent a Premier League giant, Liverpool’s year out of the UEFA Champions League could give the midfielder the ideal season to adapt to the Reds and to Jurgen Klopp’s system.