Liverpool reportedly want to bring Declan Rice to Anfield – but they could face stiff competition from several of their domestic rivals.
Rice has long been linked with a number of top Premier League clubs – with Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City also rumoured as potential destinations for the West Ham skipper.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool were keen on Rice heading into the last transfer window but didn't have the funds to meet West Ham's whopping asking price: Hammers boss David Moyes said earlier this year that the East London club wouldn't sell the 23-year-old for any less than £150m.
Over the past few seasons, Rice has developed into arguably one of the best midfielders in Europe (in fact, Moyes expressed his belief earlier this year that he might be the best). He's has made himself one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's England teamsheet, starting every game of the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2020 final.
The former Republic of Ireland international – who won three caps before switching his allegiance in 2019 – is now building towards his first World Cup, where he looks set to partner Jude Bellingham in the middle of the park.
Talk of Rice moving to one of the Premier League's big-hitters is nothing new, but such a switch is surely closer to happening than ever before.
Were he to end up at Liverpool, he'd undoubtedly improve and refresh the Reds' midfield – a department in which Jurgen Klopp and co. haven't made a permanent addition since signing Thiago from Bayern Munich two years ago.
For now, though, Rice's focus at club level will be on helping West Ham continue to climb the table after a slow start to the campaign. He scored the equaliser as the Hammers drew 1-1 at Southampton on Sunday, a result which followed back-to-back home wins over Wolves and Fulham.
Moyes' men are next in action on Wednesday night, when they hit the road to take on... Liverpool.
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Liverpool were back at their best as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in a pulsating encounter at Anfield on Sunday, although Jurgen Klopp again conceded that his team are already out of the Premier League title race.
In other transfer talk, Liverpool appear to be keeping tabs on a number of top midfielders around the continent: the Reds have also been linked with Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong in recent days, following rumours of an audacious approach for Bayern Munich hotshot Jamal Musiala.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have reportedly been tracking a Ligue 1 forward dubbed 'the Ghanaian Sadio Mane', along with one of MLS' most exciting young attacking talents.
