Liverpool are in direct competition with Borussia Dortmund for highly-rated Rennes striker Ousmane Dembele, according to The Guardian’s deputy sports editor.
Ed Aarons tweeted this morning that the race for the exciting 18-year-old was down to the two teams who played out an incredible Europa League quarter-final in April.
The respected journalist suggested that Liverpool may be able to pip Dortmund to Dembele’s signature because the French sensation is an admirer of manager Jurgen Klopp.
However, Aarons later wrote in The Guardian that the teenager has previously indicated that his future lies in the Bundesliga, and has visited Dortmund’s training ground.
And Aarons reckons that Rennes are in a legal battle with Dembele’s agents because they are trying to sell football’s hottest young property to the Germans behind their back.
The Guardian understands that a deal for Dembele, who has scored 12 goals for Rennes in his first season as a professional, could be worth an initial £27.6m before add-ons.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich have heavily scouted Dembele, who has also been linked with Premier League trio Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, according to The Guardian.
But Aarons is informed that Liverpool are well placed to sign Dembele, claiming that the youngster has spoken to Klopp on the phone and been impressed by his plans for the Reds.
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