Liverpool have emerged as a shock transfer destination for Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes, according to the Mirror.
It is believed Barnes impressed Reds boss Jurgen Klopp with his performances under Brendan Rodgers at the King Power Stadium this season, despite the 22-year-old only establishing his presence as a regular in the first-team this term.
Barnes started 24 of his 36 Premier League appearances as the Foxes secured a place in the Europa League, over which the former England U21 international boasted a goal involvement of 14 thanks to hitting home six goals and penning eight assists.
Only Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy (23) and Ayoze Perez (eight) found the back of the net more often for Leicester than Barnes in the top-flight this season, though no man could better the former MK Dons, Barnsley and West Brom loanee for assists with £40million man Youri Tielemans second with six.
Barnes’ end product has caught Klopp’s attention as the German is looking to add strength in depth to his squad over the summer, with a new forward high on his shopping list and having already seen approaches for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traore rebuffed.
Liverpool will refuse to spend over the odds on their targets in the current window but will expect to face resistance from Leicester, who are unlikely to part ways with Barnes on the cheap despite his TransferMarkt valuation of just £15.75million.
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Barnes is understood to have particularly stood out to Klopp for his ‘forceful running’ and energy while also being able to play in a variety of positions, which the German is keen to explore as the 22-year-old could take up a role on the left of his front three or in midfield.
Barnes has proven with Leicester this season that he is capable of adding goals from midfield and the wings, with five of his strikes and seven of his assists coming from the left-flank.
The 5 ft 11 midfielder was also registered as creating six big chances to score, playing 35 key balls, 297 accurate passes in the final third, making 43 successful dribbles (53.09%), taking 46 shots for a goal conversion rate of 13.04%, winning 88 ground duels (47.83%), 28 aerial duels (41.79%) and being fouled 29 times, per Sofa Score.
How much Leicester City will demand for Barnes remains to be seen, as does a formal bid from Liverpool, but Barnes would suit what Klopp is after in the market and could be the young star the German ultimately courts the most.