Liverpool fail with £7m bid to sign Leicester City youngster Ben Chilwell also a target for Arsenal
Ben Chilwell is in the final year of his contract with Leicester City and has been offered a new deal.
Liverpool have failed to convince Leicester City to sell Ben Chilwell after the Premier League champions rejected the Reds' latest £7m offer for the defender. The Merseyside club have been on the defender's trail since January with Jurgen Klopp keen to bring him to Anfield this summer.
According to the Telegraph, the King Power Stadium outfit are keen to hold on to the young left-back, but will listen to offers if interested clubs meet their valuation, which is around the £10m mark. Liverpool reportedly offered £5m plus £2m in add-ons, but was rejected by the club. Klopp is now pondering whether to increase the offer or pursue other targets with Hull City youngster Andy Robertson also a target.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss is keen to sign a left-back this summer to challenge Alberto Moreno, who has come under criticism for some sketchy performances during the course of last season. The Spaniard is currently the only recognised left-back in the squad following the departure of Jose Enrique, who was released following the conclusion of his contract. Joe Gomez can play on the left side of defence, but is primarily a central defender.
Chilwell is a product of the Leicester academy and made his breakthrough into the first-team last season. He is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League, but has featured in the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup. The 19-year-old defender, who is out of contract at the end of next season, has been offered a new deal to remain with the Premier League champions, but the Telegraph understands that he is keen to talk to Liverpool, if they meet his current employers' valuation.
Liverpool are not the only club interested in the young full-back and could face competition from Arsenal, who have also been big admirers of the Leicester starlet. According to the Daily Mail, Arsene Wenger is said to view him as a good replacement for Kieran Gibbs, who could move clubs after losing his starting place to Nacho Monreal.
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