Liverpool’s pursuit of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi has taken a positive step.
The Crystal Palace captain, who is now into the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League champions.
According to the BBC, Liverpool have now held initial talks with the Eagles with a view to signing the 25-year-old.
Furthermore, the report states that Palace are believed to want £40million for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that having already spent around £270million this summer.
That said, in a boost for the Reds, Eagles chairman Steve Parish has admitted that he is prepared to cash in on Guehi before the current transfer window closes to avoid potentially losing the centre-back for free next summer.
Speaking after the Community Shield penalty shootout win over Liverpool, Parish said: “Yes. Of course, for players of that calibre to leave on a free, it is a problem for a football club.
“There is no doubt about it, unfortunately. Last summer, Joachim [Andersen] went, and we couldn’t afford to lose both of them.
“We then had another bid in January, but that was a difficult situation as well. We will just have to see what happens. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”
In a separate deal to Guehi, Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.
It is understood the 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.
