Liverpool in five-club race for PSV forward

Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs interested in PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko, according to one report.

Football Insider claim that the Reds are 'doing their due diligence' ahead of a possible January move.

20-year-old Belgium international Bakayoko had been linked with the Reds over the summer, but appeared set for a £34m move to Brentford before that transfer fell apart.

Ultimately, the winger opted to remain in the Netherlands, following PSV's qualification for the Champions League group stages.

However, Football Insider's report suggests that PSV may be willing to sanction a January sale, if they fail to qualify for the last 16.

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It is said that Liverpool are one of 'up to five Premier League clubs' interested in Bakayoko, but only Brentford are named among the other suitors.

Born in Belgium to a Rwandan mother and Ivorian father, Bakayoko is rated as one of the top attacking talents for Belgium, having made his senior international debut earlier this year.

Earlier this summer, Dutch journalist Wim Kieft doubted whether the likelihood of the 20-year-old winger signing for Liverpool.

“I was also so surprised by the news that Liverpool were interested in Bakayoko,” he told Voetbal Primeur.

“That’s madness, isn’t it? I really think that’s total madness. I don’t believe all those reports. His agents are just putting such reports into the world.”

Should Liverpool make a January move for Bakayoko, it would mark the second successive winter in which Liverpool have signed a forward from PSV, following Cody Gakpo's £37m arrival last season.