RB Leipzig beat Liverpool, Chelsea to Mohamed Simakan?

RB Leipzig are closing in on a deal for rumoured Liverpool and Chelsea target Mohamed Simakan.

The Premier League pair have recently been credited with an interest in the Strasbourg defender, who is valued in the region of £18m.

Neither side could reach an agreement with Strasbourg in the January transfer window, however, and Leipzig are now the frontrunners to sign the 20-year-old.

Speaking to France Bleu, Strasbourg president Marc Keller confirmed that the German side is Simakan's preferred destination.

"For the moment, we have never adopted a trading policy like other clubs, i.e. selling to compensate for operating losses," he said.

"We've never done it and for the first time, we're probably going to use a sale to help us get through this crisis as well.

"It should be Mohamed, although for now nothing is done. We discuss. We have a very good relationship with the German leaders in Leipzig. We still had them on the phone [on Tuesday]. Momo wants to go there."

Simakan has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Strasbourg contract and has started 19 times in Ligue 1 this season.