Liverpool could be dealt a huge indirect blow to their Premier League title chances following Chelsea's reported plans to lure Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland to Chelsea this summer.
The Mirror this evening report that Chelsea want to offer Tammy Abraham to Borussia Dortmund as part of their bid to land Haaland.
The 20-year-old - rated at £150million - is the top summer transfer target for the Champions League winners, ahead of Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane.
But Dortmund are determined to keep Haaland after selling Jadon Sancho to Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and West Ham are among the clubs keen to sign Abraham either on loan or permanently ahead of the coming campaign.
The marksman - among Chelsea’s top scorers last season - is understood to be most keen on a move to the London Stadium.
But all of the clubs interested have been told that Chelsea want to include 23-year-old Abraham as a makeweight in a bid to land Haaland. The Londoners value Abraham, whose contract expires in 2023, at £50million - a figure that Dortmund view as excessive given the fact that he was exiled from the team last season by Thomas Tuchel.
Haaland has become one of the most sought-after players in the world after scoring 48 times in 51 games for club and country last season.
If Chelsea are able to use Abraham as a makeweight, it increases their chances of signing Dortmund's latest sought after talent.
For Klopp, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have become the main domestic rivals in recent years, with the Citizens wrestling the title back from Liverpool last season to make it three Premier Leagues in four seasons for the Etihad Stadium club.
However, with Chelsea's appointment of Thomas Tuchel bearing immediate fruit with their Champions League triumph over Guardiola's side and set to strengthen significantly again, Klopp will now be tasked with finding a way to keep Chelsea at arm's length over the course of the season.
Beaten FA Cup finalists too, Tuchel has made impressive strides since taking over the reins in West London following the sacking of Frank Lampard.
Tuchel and Klopp know one another rather well, with the Chelsea manager following Klopp's path in Germany as he built himself a reputation as one of Europe's most exciting managers, before venturing off to PSG in Ligue 1.
Liverpool will have to hope Dortmund stand firm after selling Sancho to Manchester United,
Should they manage to do that, Liverpool may breath a sigh of relief if another of their potential challengers are dealt a transfer blow.
Liverpool have strengthened themselves this summer with the signing of defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
And the Reds are expected to further dip into the transfer market this summer as they target a versatile forward and a midfielder to replace the departed Gini Wijnaldum.
However, having battled Manchester City's all-conquering side for multiple years, taking them right to the wire on one occasion as well as toppling them on another, Klopp will have belief in his squad, boosted by those returning from injury, that he can overcome Guardiola and Tuchel's men and secure Liverpool's 20th league title.
Do you want an exclusive pre-season Liverpool preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy.
