Liverpool Transfer News Today: Hincapie made TOP target, Kimmich interest, rivals join Mbappe AUCTION

We're away away from the end of the January transfer window and the rumours keep on coming for Liverpool FC.

The Reds remain unlikely to do serious business this month, but there is still plenty of talk of preparations ahead of the summer, including updates on interest in Piero Hincapie, Alan Varela, Joshua Kimmich and that man Kylian Mbappe.

Here is your latest Liverpool transfer news...

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Piero Hincapie January move rejected

Liverpool have made Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie a top defensive target ahead of the summer, but were turned down over a possible January deal.

Anfield Watch understands that Hincapie has been earmarked as a top candidate for the left-sided centre back role – a priority area of focus for the Liverpool recruitment team – ahead of this summer.

Such is the Reds' interest in the 30-cap Ecuador international that the club even made enquiries about bringing forward a deal this January, but those advances were rejected by Bayer Leverkusen, who won't entertain a sale amid their ongoing title challenge.

Despite being told no by Leverkusen this month, Hincapie – who shares an agent with one-time transfer target Moises Caicedo – remains a target for Liverpool this summer.

Reds battle Man City for Argentine midfield star

Liverpool are 'closely following' Porto midfielder Alan Varela, with an eye on a possible summer move.

The 22-year-old only moved to Portugal last summer, in an initial €8m (£6.5m) deal from Boca Juniors.

The Argentina youth international has become a key player under manager Sergio Conceiçao in his half-season in Europe and is already attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

According to Bolavip, both Liverpool and Manchester City are looking at signing Varela in the summer transfer market, with the Reds, in particular, fans of the defensive midfielder since his time at Boca.

While either club might've landed a bargain with Varela last summer, that won't be the case this year. Porto will only sell their No. 22 for his contractual release clause, which is set at €70m (£60m).

Liverpool face off with City for ANOTHER midfield star

Liverpool and City are also both interested in Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich this summer.

The 28-year-old is set to enter the final year of his contract in Munich this summer, while he is yet to reach an agreement over an extension.

This year could present the final chance for the reigning German champions to cash in on one of their top assets, or risk the possibility of losing him for free in 18 months' time.

According to journalist Christian Falk of Sport Bild, both Liverpool and City are 'interested' in Kimmich and monitoring his situation ahead of a potential move this summer.

He said: "Thiago is always injured at Liverpool and his contract is running out, [Jordan] Henderson has left, there is a bit of space in midfield and Jurgen Klopp of course knows how important Kimmich is.

‘[Jorg] Schmadtke, the sporting director [at Liverpool], has good connections in the Bundesliga. So, Klopp is also now in the race for Kimmich."

New club in for Liverpool's 'Polish Messi'

Birmingham City are the latest club keen on signing Liverpool starlet Mateusz Musialowski.

The 20-year-old attacker, who is a regular for the Reds Under-21s, is out of contract at the end of the season and widely expected to move on in the search for senior football.

The Daily Mail report that the player once dubbed the 'Polish Messi' has caught the eye of Championship side Birmingham City.

Earlier in the week, a separate report tipped fellow second-tier side Leeds to move for Musialowski, who was linked with a move away from Merseyside last summer before a transfer to Austria fell apart.

Rivals join the Mbappe 'auction'

A report from Catalan outlet El Nacional claims that Liverpool's domestic rivals Chelsea and Manchester United (don't laugh) have joined the 'auction' for Mbappe, who is still 'calmly assessing his options'.

Liverpool have long been seen as one of the frontrunners, along with Real Madrid, to land the 25-year-old should he chose to change clubs this summer.

Chelsea and United – who are unlikely to be able to offer Champions League football in the short-term – have rarely been mentioned previously as serious options for Mbappe.

However, none of the English clubs will be able to compete with Paris Saint-Germain's last-ditch offer to keep hold of their star asset, with the French club making  'astronomical offer' to the forward's, whose current deal expires at the end of the season.

PSG will supposedly put up €650m over a five-year deal for Mbappe. Yikes.