Liverpool are now in pole position to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to Le10 Sport.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham are also said to be interested in the 22-year-old but the French publication reports that “the greatest probability” for a transfer now points towards the Reds.

It is claimed that Jurgen Klopp’s side are the only team who are prepared to make a move now, without waiting to sell players in order to fund their bid for Aouar.

That seems to be a questionable assertion considering that nearly every other source has been reporting that Liverpool need to offload fringe players before they buy. For that reason, it is probably wise to take this report with a large pinch of salt.

Were the Reds to firm up their interest in Aouar, though, it seems that Lyon’s asking price has now gone up from €25m (£21.6m) to €35m (£30m) so whether that will put them off, we shall have to wait and see.