Liverpool face stiff competition for the signature of Jude Bellingham, according to reports, with Real Madrid ready to make the midfielder their top transfer target.
The England international, who starred at World Cup 2022 before his team's exit in the quarter-finals on Saturday, looks set to depart Borussia Dortmund next summer.
Liverpool are long-time admirers of the former Birmingham City man, who started all five of England's matches in Qatar.
According to Spanish outlet AS, the reigning Spanish and European champions have made Bellingham their top transfer target ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The central midfielder is valued at £86m by Transfermarkt but his current employers are thought to want at least £129m for their star man - and the price could rise even higher if a bidding war breaks out.
The report states that Madrid was Bellingham's preferred destination a few months back, but Liverpool are widely seen as the club in pole position to win the race at present.
Bellingham is only 19 years old but he has already racked up more than 150 club appearances at senior level.
He won his 22nd cap for England in the narrow defeat by France on Saturday, as goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud sent the Three Lions home.
"There’s more to come but it’s hard to see that at the minute if I’m being honest," he said after the game.
"You never know when I am going to get the chance to play with such a good group of lads again in an England shirt, so I just hope we can use this experience going forward.”
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