Liverpool have held talks to sign 20-year-old for less than £20M

Liverpool have reportedly held talks with Corinthians defender Lucas Beraldo ahead of a potential move to Anfield in the January transfer window.

Joel Matip is out of contract at the end of the season although his outstanding display against Manchester City on Saturday shows how much value he can still offer to this young and exciting team.

Replacing a player with his level of experience and nous will be difficult but in Lucas Beraldo, Liverpool have identified a potential successor.

Last week, reports from Brazilian outlet UOL claimed that the Reds are "the favourite club" to sign the 20-year-old when the winter transfer window opens.

Now, the Sunday People reports that Newcastle United are "ready to rival" Liverpool for the Brazilian's services while Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea are also interested.

Eddie Howe is keen to add more quality to his defensive ranks despite conceding the fourth-fewest goals (14) in the Premier League this season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have "already held talks" to sign young Beraldo in 2024.

Signing the Sao Paulo star in January would be advantageous for Jurgen Klopp as Beraldo could then can learn from Matip before the 32-year-old takes his leave at the end of the season.

As for how much Beraldo will cost, that's unclear as reports have varied over the value although it seems as though he will cost less than the £20 million that has been bandied about in the press.