Exclusive: Liverpool and West Ham in crowded race to sign Idrissa Gueye

Liverpool and West Ham are among clubs to have made enquiries for Metz sensation Idrissa Gueye, sources have told Football Insider.

Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Southampton, and Ipswich have also enquired about the young striker.

The 18-year-old Senegalese forward is one of the hottest properties in Europe and is attracting interest from clubs across all the top leagues.

German duo Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt have shown an interest in the young striker who made 17 Ligue 2 appearances for Metz last season, scoring six times.

And in Italy, Parma, Atalanta, and Inter Milan are all interested in bringing the teenage front man to the Serie A.

Race for Senegalese sensation Idrissa Gueye underway

According to the French publication L'Equipe, Metz are looking for a fee in the region of €20million (£17m) for their striker.

Gueye made 13 starts in Ligue 2 last season and Stephane Le Mignan predominantly used his young forward as a number nine, but the Senegal international also appeared behind the striker on occasion.

The race for number nines has been a ferocious one this summer, and clubs appear to be attempting to future-proof the position.

Liverpool have struggled with Darwin Nunez as their main option up-front and were willing to pay £130m for Alexander Isak, before eventually signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth £79m [Sky Sports].

West Ham look to solve striker problem

Michail Antonio will depart West Ham this summer, even though the Jamaica international is still rehabilitating with the club.

The 35-year-old's departure will bring to an end a storied career worth celebrating, but it also presents a problem for the Hammers.

Since Antonio arrived in East London in 2015, West Ham have been trying, and failing, to find a solution up-front.

Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastien Haller, Nico Fullkrug, Demba Ba, and many, many more have been brought in to score goals, and yet no player, except for Antonio, has been capable of consistently delivering for the Irons.

Should West Ham win the race for Gueye, the hope will be that the young striker can transfer his form over from France and finally put an end to the East London side's number nine misery.