Liverpool are prepared to battle city rivals Everton in the race to sign Axel Witsel, reports the Sunday Mirror.
The Reds are hoping to bolster their midfield this summer having lost out out Grzegorz Krychowiak, who on Sunday signed for PSG.
Everton were supposedly in the driving seat for Witsel, with a £30m bid on the table for the Belgium international, but Liverpool have since entered the race to secure his services.
Zenit St. Petersburg are reluctant to cash in on the 27-year-old, who started 28 of 30 Russian Premier League games last season.
Witsel is reportedly keen on trying his luck in the Premier League, which comes as a boost to both Merseyside teams.
He’s earned praise for his excellent passing ability, with the player finding a teammate with 89.1% of his passes in the Russian Premier League last term.
For more stats on Axel Witsel, click here to view his WhoScored player page