Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Lille centre-back Sven Botman during the January transfer window but a deal was seemingly never close, with the Reds instead signing Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak.

However, it seems as if the Merseyside outfit are still keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old's performances ahead of the summer, as he continues to impress with Lille in Ligue 1, with France Football claiming that both Liverpool and Spurs are interested in the young defender.

The Dutch centre-back only joined Les Dogues from Ajax last summer but has been superb in his debut season in France, making 25 appearances in Ligue 1 for Christophe Galtier's side, averaging a superb 7.06 rating.

Botman has averaged more successful aerial duels per game than any Liverpool player who has featured at least ten times this season and also scores impressively when it comes to his tackles and interceptions per game.

Not only does FBref rate him extremely high when it comes to his defensive abilities, but he also looks to be superb at playing progressive passes, something the Reds have definitely missed in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez this season.

Lille sporting director Luis Campos was full of praise for the young defender earlier this season, saying:

"Botman is for many the biggest revelation of this first stage of the biggest five championships."

He, therefore, feels that the 21-year-old is destined for a big future in the game, and if he continues his form from this season in the future, then there seems no reason why he couldn't establish himself as a top centre-back at a club like Liverpool.

Considering Davies is yet to make an appearance under Jurgen Klopp, and Kabak has struggled in both of his Premier League appearances thus far, it was arguably a mistake not to bring in Botman in January.

However, Michael Edwards has a chance to rectify this by ensuring that Liverpool are the ones to sign him in the summer transfer window.

AND, in other news... Forget Kabak: Edwards should seal summer swoop for "fearless" 6 ft 5 "beast"