Liverpool are facing a major blow in their pursuit of Leon Goretzka.

Bild in Germany are reporting that Schalke have offered the 22-year-old midfielder a lucrative new contract.

Liverpool gave been linked with a move for the Germany international but now face a battle to convince him to move to Merseyside.

Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona have all reportedly also shown an interest.

Goretzka's current deal expires at the end of the season.

Liverpool to face competition from Barcelona for Van Dijk

Liverpool maintain an interest in Van Dijk (
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Liverpool will face competition from Barcelona in the race for £50million-rated defender Virgil van Dijk .

Scouts from the Catalan giants — who pushed hard to buy the Anfield giants' midfield star Philippe Coutinho in the summer — watched the unsettled Dutchman in Holland’s clash with Sweden during the international break.

And they are now weighing up a move for the Southampton star.

Saints were unhappy with Liverpool’s pursuit of Van Dijk during the summer — forcing the Anfield club to apologise .

And if they do cash in, Southampton would rather sell the 26-year-old to a club abroad than the Reds, or any other Premier League rival.

Lallana unlikely to be fit for England duty

Lallana is still on the road to recovery (
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Adam Lallana is targeting a return to action after the next international break.

The Liverpool and England attacking midfielder hasn’t featured at all this season for either club or country after rupturing a thigh tendon over the summer.

But he is set to give his Reds boss Jurgen Klopp a boost by being available again from mid-November.

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The Three Lions have two prestige friendlies at Wembley next month, against Germany and Brazil, which will come too soon for the Anfield star.

However, he hopes to make his return to action for Liverpool before the end of next month.

And he will then stake his claim to be a part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the March internationals and, ultimately, the World Cup in Russia next summer.

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