Liverpool are reportedly a step closer to securing the signing of highly rated Rennes youngster Ousmane Dembélé, with a personal phone call from Jurgen Klopp likely doing the trick for the Reds.
18-year-old winger Ousmane Dembélé, who has been strongly linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund, is apparently set to shift his sight towards Liverpool after having a personal chat with the Reds’ boss, Jurgen Klopp. According to the Guardian, the French prodigy was impressed by Klopp’s vision and excited by the project he has going at Anfield.
Dembélé has 12 goals to his name in the on-going Ligue 1 season and in doing so, he became the youngest player to net 10 goals or more in the top tier of French football. The youngster in the past weeks has rejected a move to Leicester City in the Premier League and has also expressed a strong desire to continue his career in the Bundesliga. This led many to believe that Borussia Dortmund, who had been following the youngster for a while, was the most likely destination for the Rennes winger.
However it looks like a chat with Klopp over the phone has given the youngster something to think about before he takes a decision on his future. With that, Liverpool enter the frame as strong contenders to land Dembélé’s signature as the Merseysiders are apparently willing to meet the youngster’s £28 million price-tag. The likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also been scouting the youngster while Premier League heavyweights like Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked with the immensely talented Frenchman in recent months.
However, Rennes apparently prefer to sell Dembélé to Dortmund. The player has also reportedly visited the Signal Iduna Park and the club’s training facilities last month.
Among world football’s hottest young prospects at the moment, Dembélé is yet to take a final decision on his future with the French star admitting a move will be finalized soon. The Reds will be hoping they can snap up the talented youngster in the summer as Klopp prepares to lead a title charge at Anfield next season.