Liverpool twist: Italian giants agree midfielder fee, player to make decision - report

Liverpool could miss out on a key summer target after AC Milan agreed a £16million fee with Udinese for midfielder Piotr Zielinski, according to reports.

Sky Italy expert Gianluca Di Marzio claims on his website that Milan, previously in the hunt for Croatia starlet Marko Pjaca, have turned their attentions to the Poland international.

The report says that a fee between the Italian giants and Udinese has now been settled and the player will begin talks over personal terms.

Liverpool have already had an offer of £11.75million for the Poland international rejected by Giuseppe Iachini's side and now seem to have fallen behind in their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

The twist comes even though it has been widely reported that Zielinski wants to join Liverpool rather than remain in Italy.

The midfielder has spent the last two seasons on loan at Empoli and scored five goals and provided four assists in his 35 league appearances in 2015-16.

It appears Jurgen Klopp's team will have to negotiate a deal quickly if they are to have any hope of securing the youngster now that he has returned from  Euro 2016.

Klopp has already been busy in the transfer window securing Sadio Mane, Joel Matip, Loris Karius and Marko Grujic, whose £5million transfer was agreed in January.

In other Liverpool news, the Reds have handed Danny Ward a new five-year-deal before he joins Huddersfield on a season-long loan.