Manchester City and Arsenal have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Schalke wonderkid Malick Thiaw, according to reports.
The 18-year-old central defender gained interest from Premier League scouts after making his Bundesliga debut earlier this season.
He could also look to Joel Matip to help seal the switch with the fellow defender also starting his career at Schalke.
But with a reported £7million release clause in Thiaw's contract, Liverpool are braced to face serious competition.
According to the Daily Mail, both Arsenal and Man City are also in the market for his signature.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants a central defender to bolster his struggling backline.
And Pep Guardiola is in a similar boat having lost faith in John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.