Liverpool 'Working Hard' To Beat AC Milan In Race To Sign Promising Center-Back

Liverpool FC reportedly have joined AC Milan in the race to sign promising defender Loic Bade at the 2021 summer transfer window.

Even though he may be more of a summer target than a January one, Liverpool are "working hard" to acquire the deal for Bade, who is already shining in a top-flight league such as Ligue 1, as reported by French publication Le10sport.

Liverpool are undergoing a major injury crisis as both their first-choice center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez remain on the sidelines and are not expected to return to action any time soon. Another center-back Joel Matip has been out because of an injury he had sustained during the Reds’ goalless draw against Newcastle United last month in the Premier League.

Ahead of the ongoing January transfer window, it was reported that Liverpool had added Roma’s Roger Ibanez to their transfer list as a cover for van Dijk. However, there has been no further update on it.

The 20-year-old Bade made his first-team debut while with one of France’s oldest soccer clubs Le Havre last year before he moved to his current club RC Lens. In the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign, Bade has made 16 league appearances for RC Lens, having started in all of it. The young center-back has had a memorable season so far, having won an average of 4.3 aerial duels per game. His current contract with RC Lens only expires in the summer of 2023.

Moreover, Liverpool have not given up yet on Bayern Munich’s defender David Alaba. It was earlier reported the German player was set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer. However, Alaba’s father has confirmed no agreement with Real Madrid has been reached yet, according to Spanish publication Sport1.

After their recent goalless draw against Manchester United at Anfield, Liverpool slipped to No. 4 in the 2020-21 Premier League table. Leicester City are currently at the top of the table with Manchester United and City in second and third place respectively. Jurgen Klopp’s side next take on Burnley in the league Thursday.