Liverpool have reportedly earmarked Fiorentina and Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat as their top transfer target for 2023.
The 26-year-old is being tipped to make a lucrative move to a Champions League club in January after starring for Morocco during their run to the World Cup semi-finals.
Amrabat played every minute as the Atlas Lions became the first-ever African nation to reach the semi-finals before losing to Croatia in the third-placed playoff.
The Moroccan also helped Fiorentina qualify for the Europa Conference League with a seventh-placed finish in Serie A last season, and his contract with La Viola expires in 2024.
Fiorentina can activate a one-year extension to keep Amrabat at the club until 2025, but the Italian side would be unable to compete financially with the likes of Liverpool.
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According to Foot Mercato, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has now made a deal for Amrabat his priority and will reignite contact with the midfielder's representatives in the New Year.
The report states that Klopp has already met with Amrabat's entourage and is keen to strike a January deal, and Fiorentina could be convinced into selling for a €40m (£35m) fee next month.
La Viola are supposedly still hopeful of keeping Amrabat and agreeing a new contract with the 26-year-old, who would be open to the idea of moving to Liverpool next year.
Tottenham Hotspur were believed to have been interested in a deal for Amrabat over the summer, with Antonio Conte aware of his qualities from his time in Serie A with Inter Milan.
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also rumoured to be monitoring developments, and Amrabat recently told Marca that he was an admirer of Diego Simeone's style of play.
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I'm proud to be linked to top clubs like Barcelona and Atlético. But I'm a Fiorentina player, I respect the club and I've great relationship with the president," Amrabat said. "Simeone? We have good coach at Fiorentina too but... yes, I like Cholo's style."
Amrabat has one goal to show from 78 games in a Fiorentina shirt since arriving from Hellas Verona in 2020, and he has made 20 appearances for the Serie A powerhouses in all tournaments this term.
Liverpool held off on making a big-money midfield signing in the summer, instead bringing in Arthur on loan from Juventus, but they could lose all of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner on free transfers next year.
The Reds are therefore expected to prioritize a marquee acquisition in the engine room, with Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and Benfica's Enzo Fernandez still on Klopp's wishlist.
Liverpool are also said to be open to a January loan deal for Juventus' Weston McKennie, while the agent of Bianconeri loanee Arthur - who is currently sidelined with a thigh injury - has ruled out the possibility of the Brazilian leaving Anfield during the winter window.
Ben Knapton
