Liverpool have launched a shock bid for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have turned their attention to the Ecuador international after Chelsea made an offer for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
The South Coast club turned down three successive offers from the Reds for the teenage midfielder as they held out for a valuation of close to £50 million.
But Anfield chiefs are planning to gazump their London rivals with an approach for Caicedo, who has missed training in hopes of forcing a transfer.
Brighton are understood to have rejected Chelsea’s offer in the region of £80m before Liverpool entered the race to sign the 21-year-old enforcer.
Both teams are aiming to secure fresh midfield reinforcements in time for their opening Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Klopp’s side have already lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho alongside the summer exits of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.