Liverpool plan 40m bid for new midfielder

Liverpool will launch a €40m bid for AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer in the coming days, according to a report. Following the Reds' opening day draw at Marco Silva's Fulham on Saturday afternoon, where Thiago Alcantara became the latest member of Jurgen Klopp's squad to pull up with an injury, Liverpool are said to be ready to pursue a fourth signing of an already busy transfer window.

That's according to the Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, who report that Bennacer, who is said to have a €50m release clause, can help solve Klopp's midfield injury crisis following a difficult few weeks for the club's medical department.

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Thiago's suspected hamstring problem follows injuries to Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Naby Keita also missed the 2-2 draw with Fulham through illness.

Bennacer has spent three years at AC Milan since he made the €16m move from fellow Serie A side Empoli in the summer of 2019. The Algeria international has since gone on to make 103 appearances for the Rossoneri and claimed a Serie A winners' medal last season.

The Bennacer rumours, which emerged from Italy over the weekend, contradict reports from the English press this summer that claim Liverpool manager Klopp - who is said to be a huge fan of Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jude Bellingham - is holding out on until the summer of 2023 to bolster the options he currently has in midfield.