Liverpool have today been linked with a £15m bid for Lyon defender Emanuel Mammana.

The 21-year-old is a very highly rated defender, having been capped three times for Argentina already after a successful youth career for his country.

Mammana joined Lyon last summer for a fee of around £7m, making 17 Ligue 1 appearances , scoring one goal.

The Reds have made Virgil Van Dijk their top defensive target this summer, with Jurgen Klopp desperate to add the £50m-rated Southampton defender to his squad.

But that move now looks dead after Southampton accused Liverpool of tapping up the Dutchman, leading to the Reds sensationally withdrawing his interest in the defender.

Mammana could be an alternative for the Reds, who returned to pre-season training at Melwood this week.

Liverpool would first have to agree a fee with Lyon for the former River Plate defender. The French club sold Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal this week and are notoriously difficult negotiators.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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