Liverpool make late approach to sign £50million no.8 - he's like Naby Keita 2.0

Liverpool have reportedly made contact with Brighton to find out how much it would cost to sign Yves Bissouma before the transfer window slams shut.

According to Duncan Castles, who was speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Liverpool are interested in a late move to sign the 24-year-old.

“My information is that there are inquiries from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal as to how much it would cost to sign him,” Castles said.

“Now he has improved significantly during his time at Brighton and what is quite important here is that his statistics are exceptionally good.

“We know that clubs – in particular United, Liverpool and Arsenal – are particularly heavy on this and use analytics as a filter to decide which players to pursue.

“You can see why his game would fit Liverpool’s set up under Klopp.

“I understand that Brighton have opened discussions with Bissouma about improving his salary and extending his contract with the idea of keeping hold of him for at least another season.”

Bissouma played a similar role to Keita v Watford

They're two very, very different players but are both highly suited to the way Jurgen Klopp likes his team to play football but Bissouma played a similar role to Naby Keita on Saturday against Watford and thrived.

Brighton beat the Premier League new boys 2-0 and their second of the game came after the Malian stole the ball high up the pitch in that area of the pitch that Keita loves.

This is something that often gives the Reds a numerical advantage in a central area during possession turnover and can result in quickfire goals.

It's no surprise Klopp is a huge fan of counter-pressing because at its best, it results in the easiest goals and at its worst, it results in the opponent hoofing the ball past the press in an attempt to bypass it and with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip at the back, this usually results in possession turnover as well.

Is there an opportunity for Liverpool to sign Bissouma?

Anfield Central covered Liverpool's interest in the Brighton star at the start of the summer transfer window but the Reds were turned off by a combination of the Seagull's £50million asking price and silly demands from the player's agent.

After selling Ben White to Arsenal for around the same figure, they aren't under pressure to sell so it would be a difficult deal to complete especially this late in the summer.

That said, where there's a will, there's a way and if Liverpool really want him, they could find a way to sign him but it does seem as though the Reds are done with their transfer business this summer.