Liverpool are hot on the trail of Roma attacking midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo according to reports in Italy.
Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) suggests that the Reds are keen on adding the 20-year-old prodigy to their squad this summer, although the Italian outfit aren't too keen on letting the youngster leave.
Roma are reportedly going to have to let a number of players exit this summer due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with names like Juan Jesus, Javier Pastore and Steven Nzonzi at the top of the list.
Cengiz Under is another player they could look to sell but if they fail to get rid of the aforementioned names, they might have to cash in on Zaniolo - a man whose stock appears to be rising all the time.
Juventus are Liverpool's main competition for the midfielder, but they will have to pay a pretty funny in order to snatch him away from the Italian capital.
The report states Roma won't sell him for anything less than €60m (£53.9m), but given their reluctance to even let him depart, Zaniolo could actually end up costing more. Michael Edwards will need to dig deep into Liverpool's pockets to get this one done.
GIVEMESPORTS'S Matt Dawson says...
Liverpool have easily been the best side in the Premier League this season - sitting 25 points clear - but they have every right to further strengthen their squad.
Zaniolo has played 16 times as a right-winger this term but Mo Salah has that position locked down at Anfield.
Therefore, he may be able to occupy a role as Liverpool's number 10.
The Reds have a host of midfielders but a number of them are fairly defensive-minded - take Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita for example. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is an option but he prefers to sit back and dictate play in the middle of the park.
Zaniolo, though, occupies spaces far higher up the pitch, near where Roberto Firmino operates for the Merseyside club.
The 20-year-old has played 24 times for Roma this term and found the back of the net six times, adding to the half a dozen he netted in 2018/19. If he does sign, Jurgen Klopp would need to find a way to incorporate him better than he's managed to with Takumi Minamino.
He is largely similar in terms of playing positions but has failed to get too much football.