Transfer news: Liverpool prepares summer transfer for Empoli’s Piotr Zielinski and Leandro Paredes

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a summer transfer for Empoli FC midfielders Piotr Zielinski and Leandro Paredes, according to the latest transfer rumours.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds have sent scouts to monitor Zielinski and Paredes in Empoli’s 1-0 defeat to Genoa FC on Sunday.

The highly-rated duo has caught Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s attention, with Zielinski and Paredes enjoying loan spells with the Italian football club. Zielinski has been on loan from Udinese since 2014, while Paredes is enjoying a loan spell from AS Roma.

The Merseyside outfits are expected to face stiff competition for the Polish and the Argentine internationals this summer, with European clubs also keen on acquiring the Empoli duo. But with Klopp getting the support of the club for huge summer transfers, there is a chance Liverpool would get their hands at Zielinski and Paredes.

Klopp is reportedly bound to have a £100 million (AU$191.5 million) fund for the summer’s transfer window to turn Liverpool into title contenders, according to The Sun. The report added that the Reds’ Fenway Sports Group owners are willing to support Klopp in a massive spending spree, with owner John W Henry being impressed by the German’s stint at Anfield.

The 48-year-old Klopp has been rumoured to be interested in bringing several players who could help turn Liverpool into Premier League contenders, including Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze, reports The Guardian. Udinese midfielder Ben Chilwell is also mentioned as one of Klopp’s targets.

“There has never been a situation where we haven’t backed the manager and there will be no difference with Jürgen as we move forward towards the summer,” Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre said. “Those discussions will go on and we will do what we need to do on his guidance and contribution.

Meanwhile, Klopp does not seem to be fazed by big stars not showing interests in joining Liverpool this summer. He claimed there would be plenty of players to choose from once the summer transfer window opens in June.

“If there’s a player who won’t join Liverpool because we don’t play in the Champions League, or will only join because we’re in the Champions League, that’s not for us,” Klopp said. “There are a lot of players out there.”