Liverpool are considering a move to sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton, with Mason Mount expected to join Manchester United.
Liverpool had been interested in a deal to sign Mount after the midfielder’s contract talks at Chelsea broke down, but Manchester United have emerged as frontrunners to sign the 24-year-old and are understood to have agreed personal terms over a move to Old Trafford.
Jurgen Klopp is now considering alternatives as the Reds rebuild in midfield, having completed a deal for Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister as the club’s first signing of the summer.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Ward-Prowse is under consideration following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League. Liverpool are not willing to meet the 28-year-old’s £50m asking price, but believe Southampton’s price tag will drop as the transfer window progresses.
The midfielder is set to leave St Mary’s to keep alive his England ambitions and Southampton need funds to rebuild their squad ahead of a push for promotion.
Liverpool would reportedly be willing to pay around £25m to sign Ward-Prowse, who has also been linked with Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham.
Interest from Liverpool comes with the club in need of midfield reinforcements this summer, having seen James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain depart on free transfers.
A move for Ward-Prowse would also increase Liverpool’s homegrown quota, given the exits of Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain and potential departures of Caoimhin Kelleher and Nat Phillips.
