Sources: Liverpool have 'strong interest' in Declan Rice - Jurgen Klopp 'loves him'
Liverpool retain a strong interest in West Ham star Declan Rice as they lay the groundwork for a marquee midfield signing next year, sources have told Football Insider.
The Merseysiders are pushing hard to land Jude Bellingham but are facing increasingly strong competition from Europe's elite for the Borussia Dortmund sensation.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is also a huge admirer of Rice, 23, and believes he would be a perfect fit for his team.
Liverpool were interested in Rice going into the recent summer window but owners Fenway Sports Group would not have given Klopp the funds for a mega deal.
West Ham wanted £100million for the England star in the summer of 2021 and then David Moyes insisted at his media conference in April that the price tag had rocketed and "£150m just now would be minimum".
That was enough to temporarily put off the Premier League elite from making a move.
But Rice's price tag is falling as he will enter the final 18 months of his contract in the new year.
His current deal with the Irons runs until the summer of 2024 and the club have the option of another 12 months
Rice has showed no interest in extending it and notably rejected a blockbuster offer worth £200,000-a-week earlier this year.
In addition to Liverpool, Man United, Man City and Chelsea are all believed to have a strong interest in the midfield anchorman as they look to strengthen their squads.
Klopp wants to bring in a top-class, dynamic midfielder who can slot into an ageing midfield in which Jordan Henderson is 32, Thiago Alcantara is 31 and Fabinho turns 29 this month, while James Milner is 36.
Rice has taken his game to a new level at West Ham over the last year, not only protecting his side's defence but also driving his team forward from the centre of the pitch.
Liverpool's recruitment team have also noted his excellent availability - he plays every game for the Irons - and fitness record, something that has been a major problem for their younger midfielders including Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.