Reports in England claim Liverpool are on the trail of Brighton’s target Lille midfieder Carlos Baleba.

The Anfield side need to sign a first-class defensive midfielder after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.

According to the Daily Mail, the 19-year-old has been tracked by Brighton and the south coast club are in discussions over a £15m move for the midfielder as a replacement for Moises Caicedo.

However, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have leapt into contention to sign the Lille’s rising star this month, looking to bypass Brighton & Hove Albion’s pursuit, with the Seagulls currently seeking to replace Caicedo with the Cameroonian talent, who is valued at €30m (£26m) by his French side.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano even went as far as to describe the talent as the “perfect” replacement for Liverpool’s former target.

And he has certainly been making waves in Ligue 1, with his performances leaving journalist Graeme Bailey waxing lyrical and calling him a “future star”, with the teenager breaking into the Lille first-team last term and displaying his passing composure by completing 84% of his passes across 19 outings in Ligue 1.

Liverpool, AC Milan, Juventus, Monaco and Newcastle United are all keen to sign the teenager, with the Reds looking to land him after missing out on Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

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