Transfer News: Liverpool keeping a keen eye on French U-21 defender

Liverpool are interested in Stade Rennes starlet Andy Diouf

According to Italian publication Corrierre Dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness), Premier League giants Liverpool are interested in Stade Rennes senation Andy Diouf ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old came through the ranks at several French sides including Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Rennes in 2020. He initially spent some time in the club’s reserves before being handed his first team debut in 2021.

Diouf has since made seven appearances for the Ligue 1 team but is yet to contribute to a single goal or assist. A central midfielder, he is versatile enough to don both opffensive and defensive positions and could thrive in a box to box role.

Currently on loan at Swiss giants FC Basel, Diouf is making a name for himself. Italian side Bologna are also in the race for the player who could develop into a dominant midfielder in the years to come.

Liverpool are in need of midfielders and Diouf certainly will make up the numbers. However he is far from the finished article and is currently a work in progress. While the 20-year-old does have potential, he is far from the experienced heads that the current roster needs.

Jurgen Klopp will lose Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner in the summer with the trio set to depart as free agents

. Arthur Melo will also return to Juventus after an anonymous loan spell, leaving the Reds short in term sof central midfield options.

It is imperative that the club bring in three to four proven players who can make an instant impact. We cannot afford to overlook yet another season by failing to address immediate concerns.

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Even if Liverpool sign Diouf in the sumemr, the chances of him playing regularly is very unlikely. But then, if the Reds recruitment team are fully convinced, they could land him and then ship him off on loan to Bologna. Surely he will benefit from playing regularly rather than sit on the bench. For now, this is all hypothetical. It remains to be seen if there will be any push in this direction in the weeks to come.