Liverpool have reportedly moved ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign Denis Zakaria from Borussia Monchengladbach in January.
The 25-year-old's current deal with the Bundesliga outfit expires at the end of the season, and he will be free to discuss terms for a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1.
Liverpool and Arsenal are among the clubs understood to be keeping tabs on Zakaria's situation, and Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Jurgen Klopp's men are now the front-runners.
The report also claims that Liverpool could look to steal a march in the race for his signature by moving for a cut-price deal in January rather than waiting to sign him for free next summer.
Zakaria could be available for as little as £6m as Monchengladbach look to cash in on the midfielder.
Liverpool have been linked with midfield reinforcements since letting Georginio Wijnaldum leave the club last summer.
Zakaria has made 143 appearances for Gladbach since joining in 2017, scoring 11 goals and creating eight more in that time.
Barney Corkhill
