Liverpool have expressed an interest in signing Jean Michaël Seri from Nice as Jürgen Klopp searches for midfield alternatives to Naby Keïta.
The Ivory Coast midfielder has been tracked by several Premier League clubs this summer including Arsenal, Everton. Tottenham and Swansea after excelling in Nice’s third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. The 25-year-old has also been scouted by Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, who sent scouts to watch him in action in Friday’s home defeat against Troyes.
But after Barça announced the signing of former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho on Monday, it remains to be seen whether they will make a bid for Seri despite indicating that they were willing to meet his asking price of €40m (£34m) this month.
That could open the door for Liverpool to make a bid, with officials understood to have made contact with Nice in recent days to enquire over his availability. Despite offering £66m to RB Leipzig last month, they have been frustrated in their attempts to sign Guinea international Keïta and accept that a deal for the 22-year-old is more likely to be achieved next summer, when a clause in his contract stipulates he can leave for €55m.
Having already sold the Brazilian full-back Dalbert Henrique to Internazionale for €20m, the French side are under no pressure to part with their prized asset but are understood to have told Seri they will not stand in his way if a suitable bid is received. Any move may have to wait until after Nice have played in their Champions League qualifier against Napoli, with the first leg taking place in Italy on Wednesday.
Arsenal have also been in touch with Seri’s representatives in recent weeks, although it is believed that they will not make a move unless they are able to offload players in the coming days.