Liverpool are interested in Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to Goal‘s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones.

The Reds are looking for a replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, who is expected to leave Anfield on a free transfer in the summer, and Jones says there are currently three players in the frame:

“Florian Neuhaus of Borussia Monchengladbach has been linked strongly, while there is interest in Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and the brilliant Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar, among others.”

Both Neuhaus, who is attracting interest from Manchester City, and Bissouma have been mentioned relatively recently by other sources but the targeting of Aouar is a brand new development.

The France international was the subject of a bid from Arsenal in the summer, while Chelsea have also been heavily linked with the midfielder in the past.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks could be Aouar’s price tag, with clubs having been quoted €50m (£43m) for the player up until recently. However, the collapse of Ligue One’s TV deal has resulted in French clubs facing financial problems. Whether that means Lyon would allow the player to leave on the cheap, we shall have to wait and see.