Liverpool can reach pre-contract agreement with €59m midfield monster - willing to offer €30million signing-on bonus

Liverpool can sign Franck Kessie for free this summer and they can reach a pre-contract agreement with the Ivory Coast midfielder this month, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Georginio Wijnaldum left the club in the summer for PSG after his contract expired as the club's owners allowed his deal to run out and FSG then didn't replace him and now the Reds are paying the price.

Jurgen Klopp is struggling with a selection crisis this season, with suspension, injuries and COVID-19 adversely affecting the squad while AFCON has taken Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for a month.

Replacing Gini, one of the fittest players at the club and in the Premier League during his time at Anfield, should have been a priority but it's now harming Liverpool but a potential replacement in Franck Kessie has been identified.

He's been linked with the Merseysiders for several months and now Liverpool are permitted to talk to Kessie as clubs outside Italy are free to talk to him as he has just six months left on his contract, reports the Liverpool Echo.

According to a report from Spanish outlet El Nacional from October, Liverpool were willing to make an offer to Kessie of €30million (£25.4m) as a signing on bonus in order to convince him to choose Anfield over the San Siro.

While Liverpool need a replacement for Wijnaldum, Kessie could also provide more depth as a defensive midfielder for when Fabinho gets injured or needs a rest as Liverpool look a shadow of themselves when the Brazilian isn't in the starting XI.

The importance of Jurgen Klopp's midfield has been revealed this season as Wijnaldum's absence has made a significant impact as has the absence of Thiago, with the Spaniard unable to remain fit.

He missed 10 games through injury at the start of the season due to a calf injury and has since come back into the side, performed really well and shown his importance to the side, contracted COVID-19 and picked up a mysterious hip injury.

Liverpool have a 100% win rate when he has started this season but just a 36% win rate without him. Worrying.

Thiago's control and measured approach to the game allows Liverpool to dictate the tempo and maintain a foothold in games that otherwise have got away from them this season and while Kessie isn't the same type of midfielder, he is also very good technically and is a major upgrade on some of the other midfielders available to Klopp.

Signing him for free also sweetens the deal but it's frustrating that the Reds didn't make their move in the summer.

I understand he's free in 6 months, even though he's valued at €59m (£49.2m), but not refreshing the squad season after season is holding Liverpool back while the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United spend freely summer after summer, winter after winter.

Even Aston Villa and Newcastle United show more ambition in the transfer market and the owners need to step up otherwise it could prove costly in the next few years.