Liverpool have reignited their interest in Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele after their move for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner stalled over the club’s asking price, according to reports.
Jurgen Klopp is eager to add more competition to his attack, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi expected to be allowed to leave Liverpool this summer.
Werner has been a target for the Premier League side, with Klopp reportedly even speaking to him via Zoom, but RB Leipzig’s valuation is proving a major stumbling block.
The Bundesliga team are adamant that any club who wants to sign Werner will need to pay his £50m release clause, but the Reds value him at around £30m.
That has made them explore alternatives and, according to Mundo Deportivo, they are considering a move for Dembele, who has long been admired by Jurgen Klopp.
The German manager left Dortmund just before Dembele arrived at the club and it has always nagged him that he did not get to manage the talented player.
- Javier Hernandez rips ‘stubborn’ Moyes apart in brutal account of United reign
- Zola reveals two players that suffered under ‘boring’ Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea
Liverpool were linked with a transfer move for the winger when he was still at Dortmund, but he ended up signing for Barcelona in a £135.5m deal.
Dembele’s form on the pitch has been poor, while he has missed much of the current season through injury and has often been reprimanded for his off-field behaviour, turning up late to training – or not showing up.
Although new Barcelona manager Quique Setien is a fan of Dembele, the club have identified the player as someone they can cash in on this summer and are prepared to cut their losses, with some reports claiming he is available for only £40m.
That is less than the fee Leipzig are demanding for Timo Werner and Klopp is still a huge fan of Dembele despite his issues at Barcelona.
Liverpool could face competition for Dembele’s signature, though, with Juventus having already enquired about the player as a potential makeweight in a swap deal for Pjanic.
