Liverpool want to sign Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich in 2024 but already have a fierce rival for his signature.
Bild's Christian Falk claims Liverpool do indeed want to sign Leroy Sane next year. Sane is entering the final year of his contract, with Bayern Munich yet to agree terms on a new one.
Rather than risk losing him for free the following summer, the suggestion is that Bayern would sell. If Sane refuses to sign a new deal, that is.
But Liverpool aren't alone in this plan. Manchester City, says Falk, also want to sign Sane next year.
Sane actually left City for Bayern, of course, having fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola. His form in Germany has been sensational this season, however, and it seems the English champions would quite like him back.
This one has a ways to run, then. Bild report, for what it's worth, that Bayern have now finally started negotiations over a new deal - which would explain the current speculation.
Interested clubs will want Sane to know their intentions as they hope to deter him from signing that contract. Then there's the fact that the player's own people will want Bayern to know there are plenty of clubs willing to pay him a fortune.
Are Liverpool one of those? They almost certainly do have eyes on Sane but it's hard to see a place for him unless Mohamed Salah leaves to Saudi Arabia.
The likelihood of that is completely up in the air, though. There are plenty of suggestions that a massive bid will come in, while there's also talk that the big-spending will slow down in January. Exactly what Salah himself wants to do isn't exactly clear, either.
Liverpool aren't exactly close to signing Sane, then. First he'd need to reject Bayern, then Salah would need to be off, then the Reds would need to beat City to his signature.