Liverpool submit shock bid worth €71M for "spectacular player with a lot of leadership" - would be a crazy signing

Liverpool have been linked with an incredible move for a €71M valued world-class midfielder that would surely shock the footballing world.

The Reds are struggling with a long list of injuries that has seen fans demand a new signing in central midfield.

Rumours have only escalated since the 2-1 loss against Manchester United earlier this week and now they're being linked with an outrageous move for Barcelona's Frenkie De Jong.

This report is to be taken with a pinch of salt, given the transfer saga that has surrounded the Dutchman in his failed moves to United and Chelsea so far this summer.

Latest reports on De Jong Liverpool

There aren't too many credible sources on this story, but the links have been reported on by Forbes.

They claim that Liverpool are planning to make an offer of £53M (€62M) + £7M (€8.3M) in variables (approximately £60M (€71M in total) to FC Barcelona for Frenkie De Jong.

Manchester United failed to agree on terms with the player but they had initially agreed to a higher fee of €85M in mid-July - with Liverpool some way off that figure.

Since the Reds can offer Champions League football, that stands as the only major difference between the two English clubs who have been interested in the player.

De Jong's qualities

He joined around the time the club was in disarray, both financially and on the pitch as Lionel Messi left the club, joining Paris Saint-Germain for free last summer.

Those days at Ajax seem a long time ago now, but at 25, he still has a lot to offer for club and country.

His stats on the ball are undeniably world-class; he's between the 93rd-94th percentile for non-penalty xG, npxG + xA, pass completion, progressive carries and progressive passes received.

De Jong can be statistically compared to Nicolo Barella, Luka Modric and Bernardo Silva and his quality on the ball would rival Thiago's at Liverpool.