Liverpool are reportedly considering an approach for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
The Croatia international was initially due to become a free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season before agreeing a new four-year contract with the Nerazzurri.
Brozovic remains an integral cog in Simone Inzaghi's machine and made 48 appearances in all competitions for the club last season, scoring three goals and setting up four more.
Barcelona were previously linked with a move for the 29-year-old before he committed his future to the San Siro outfit, which seemingly ended speculation over his future.
However, Italian outlet Calciomercato - via The Mirror - claims that Liverpool are considering the possibility of a swap deal for the midfielder this summer.
© Reuters
The report claims that either Naby Keita or Roberto Firmino could be sent to Italy as part of the deal, but the Reds will have to fend off interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Barca and Manchester United.
Keita and Firmino are both out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and have seen their futures called into question, but the former is supposedly ready to put pen to paper on a new contract.
Firmino was strongly linked with a switch to Juventus earlier in the window, with the Brazil international seemingly falling down the pecking order at Anfield after the signing of Darwin Nunez.
However, Firmino has affirmed that he wants to continue his career at Liverpool, although there are not thought to be any ongoing discussions surrounding a new contract yet.
Liverpool's midfield options have taken significant blows in recent weeks, with Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thiago Alcantara all nursing injuries at present.
© Reuters
Liverpool fans have implored Jurgen Klopp to sign a new lynchpin amid their injury crisis, but the Reds boss has insisted that a transfer must make sense in the long and short term.
"I know what will now come up, it's clear. We said we don't need a midfielder because we have enough - and we actually have enough, but the problem now is we get punished for something that is not our responsibility really because things like this can happen," Klopp told the press after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Fulham.
"Look, a transfer must make sense now and in the long term; we have midfielders, we have still enough midfielders. It is not that we lack midfielders, but it's just some of them are injured.
"This is not a good situation, I don't like it at all, but we have to see how we react on that - but for sure not panicking."
Liverpool will endeavour to get off the mark in the Premier League when they welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield August 15.
Ben Knapton
