Liverpool transfer rumour: Reds to battle Arsenal for Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell's signature in the summer

Liverpool are targeting a summer move for Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell as Jurgen Klopp looks to shore up his back line ahead of next season. The England U20 international has been on the radar of the top Premier League clubs since his breakthrough to the Foxes first-team earlier this season.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the newly crowned Premier League champions are aware of the interest but will put up a fight to keep him at the King Power Stadium as they will be keen to build a team able to defend the title and remain in the top four for the foreseeable future. The report claims that the Merseyside club are keen to bring the young left-back to Anfield and value him at around £5m ($7.2m).

Klopp is keen to bring in cover a left-back to provide competition to Alberto Moreno, whose performances have come under scrutiny this season. It is believed that the German manager has also identified replacements in case of a standoff with Leicester over the transfer.

The 19-year-old defender, who was named Leicester City's academy player of the year last season, has made three first-team appearances in his breakthrough season. Chilwell also impressed on loan with Huddersfield, which attracted the attention of the Premier League big guns.

The Liverpool boss is likely to face a battle from Arsenal for the defender's signature with Arsene Wenger keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium as backup for first choice Nacho Monreal. The young Foxes star's arrival could put the future of Kieran Gibbs in doubt after the defender fell out of favour following the emergence of the Spanish defender, which has restricted him to just three starts in the Premier League thus far this season.