Report: Liverpool hijack move for 23-year-old defender, Klopp will meet £6.6m asking price

By Amir Mir

Jurgen Klopp has targeted Udinese right-back Silvan Widmer as he plans to reinforce the Liverpool defence, according to a report.

Italian publication Gazzeta dello Sport have claimed that the Merseysiders have joined Napoli in the race to sign the young defender.

It is said that Klopp is interested in bringing the 23-year-old to England and is happy to meet the £6.6million asking price.

The Switzerland international, who made his Serie A debut in 2013, has four more years remaining on his Udinese contract.

He has seen interest in him rise in recent months, with Italian giants Inter Milan failing to secure a deal for him in January.

Widmer has made 79 appearances for his club, including 27 last season when his side narrowly avoided relegation to the second tier.

Defenders Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Jose Enrique have left Liverpool this summer and Widmer fits the bill as an emerging star with the potential to improve.

If Widmer does join the Reds then he will battle England international Nathaniel Clyne for a place in the first-team and try to help a side that conceded 50 goals during the last campaign.

In other Liverpool transfer news, manager Jurgen Klopp sets his sights on his old hunting ground as he steps up his search for a new centre-back.