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According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Barcelona are closing in on a €27m (£24.1m) deal to sign Real Betis left-back Junior Firpo, who has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool.

What's the word, then?

Well, Marca had previously reported that the Reds were interested in a move for the dynamic Spain Under-21 left-back, who enjoyed an extremely impressive 2018/19 campaign in La Liga for Betis - The Guardian reported that Liverpool were 'undismayed' by the player's £45m release clause.

Firpo netted three goals and set up four more for his teammates last term, showcasing how dangerous he can be going forward - at 22 years of age, he also has a lot of time on his side to get even better.

Jurgen Klopp's men were linked with the 6 foot full-back along with Manchester United, but Barcelona seem to have stolen a march ahead of the Premier League duo according to Di Marzio.

A potential transfer blow for Liverpool 

With less than two weeks left before deadline day, the Champions League winners are yet to sign a single player for the first-team - 17-year-old Sepp van den Berg is the only new face to have arrived.

After Alberto Moreno's exit, Klopp has no senior backup for Andy Robertson. Academy prospects Adam Lewis and Yasser Larouci are the only options as cover for now, which would be problematic for Liverpool if the Scot were to suffer a serious injury given the inexperience of the pair.

The Liverpool Echo have reported that Klopp is happy to start the season with Joe Gomez and James Milner as cover for the left-back role if no opportunity in the market arises.

But after a serious injury to Nathaniel Clyne, the aforementioned duo will also presumably be considered as cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold too as both of them played in the role at times last season  - the squad could very easily become stretched.

Reported left-back targets have been few and far between for the Merseysiders, so to see one of their few options close in on another club leaves them with one less target to consider between now and the deadline.

Time is running out for the Reds to bolster their ranks.