Liverpool board ‘approve’ contract for Premier League star as they look to complete free transfer

Liverpool want to bring Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot to Anfield in the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The Reds have had a disappointing season with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently eighth in the Premier League with eight matches to play before the end of the campaign.

And it would be an extraordinary comeback if Liverpool somehow managed to finish in the top four this term with the Reds currently nine points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle United.

Their stunning 6-1 victory at Leeds United on Monday night has given fans the faint hope that they can win all of their remaining matches and hope for the best.

Klopp’s midfielder has taken the brunt of criticism this season with the Liverpool recruitment team looking to buy at least a couple of midfielders in the summer transfer market.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all out of contract in the summer, while there are rumours that Liverpool could decide to sell injury-prone Thiago Alcantara.

And Chelsea midfielder Mount has been heavily linked over the last few months with Blues owner Todd Boehly ready to sell the England international in the summer if he refuses to sign a new deal.

Boehly is keen to avoid Chelsea players leaving on free transfers and, with Mount’s contract expiring at the end of June 2024, the Blues owner is likely to look to get a fee.

Chelsea are said to want £70m for the midfielder with Football Insider claiming that the Liverpool board – who recently gave up on signing Jude Bellingham – have ‘prepared and approved a contract’ for Mount as they look to seal the signing.

The Blues are still hopeful they can persuade him to stay on and sign a new contract but Liverpool ‘are in pole position to sign Mount although they face strong competition from Premier League rivals for his signature’.

There was a report yesterday that Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella had become Klopp’s top targets in midfield but another name has now emerged.

Former Foot365 editor Ignazio Genuardi claims that Juventus midfielder Rabiot ‘can notably count on the interest of Liverpool’ in the summer transfer window.

He is unlikely to renew with the Serie A giants as the Old Lady will ‘find it difficult to align’ with his demands and the France international is ‘on the shortlist’ at Liverpool as Klopp searches for new midfielders. He is one of many world-class players available for free this summer.

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