Liverpool have been handed a fresh update in their pursuit of Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
What's the story?
According to the Empire of the Kop, Liverpool's contact with Tchouameni's agent has been confirmed and the 22-year-old is 'very interested' in a move to the Merseyside club.
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Journalist Santi Aouna shared: “For the moment, there is just some contact with his agent. Monaco knows it too. The player is very interested in Liverpool."
Aouna also labelled the Monaco midfielder as "mature" whilst also being a "complete player" whilst an asking price of £42m was previously reported.
Liverpool must sign Tchouameni
If Liverpool need to add quality to any position of their excellent squad this summer, it's arguably in midfield.
The Reds have a plethora of options in the middle, such as Thiago, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, however, some could depart Anfield this summer.
Milner's contract is set to expire next month and the veteran is yet to sign an extension whilst Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's current deals run out next summer and they could therefore be sold this window to raise funds.
Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular may be a player who will seek more regular game time this summer with the Englishman making 29 appearances for Liverpool so far this term, with just 17 in the Premier League.
As for Tchouameni, the 22-year-old has missed just two Ligue 1 matches this term, amounting 47 appearances across all competitions.
Having joined Monaco from fellow French side Bordeaux in January 2020, the Frenchman has already amassed 96 appearances for his side and certainly appears to have an exciting pedigree.
As well as that, Tchouameni has made a breakthrough into the French national team, making eight appearances since September.
The defensive midfielder averages a whopping 75.4 touches per match in the French top flight whilst his passing rate stands at 87%.
Moreover, his defensive contributions are excellent too, providing 2.8 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 0.8 clearances a game, well and truly living up to the tag of a "beast" that writer Sacha Pisani handed him.
If any of Liverpool's current crop of midfielders are set to leave this summer it appears as though Milner's departure could be likely with the 36-year-old's deal set to expire.
Having said that, the Mirror did recently report that the Englishman was offered a one-year contract at the start of the season.
If the midfielder is to depart the Merseyside club this summer, then it appears as though Jurgen Klopp can find an ideal heir to replace the veteran in Tchouameni.
AND in other news: Bid accepted: Liverpool now facing major setback that will surely have Klopp fuming