Liverpool have reportedly made a concrete move to sign Chicago Fire attacker Jhon Duran next year.
The 19-year-old left hometown club Envigado in January to sign for the MLS side and has made an immediate impression with eight goals and six assists from 30 outings.
Thirteen of Duran's contributions came in 27 MLS matches, and he is only under contract with Chicago Fire until the end of the 2024 season.
The American outfit can activate a two-year extension to keep the Colombia international on the books until 2026, but a host of European clubs are thought to be queuing up for his signature.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all supposedly weighing up moves for the 2003-born attacker, who has already earned three caps for the Colombia national team.
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According to journalist Raffaele Amato - via the Liverpool Echo - the Reds have now stepped up their interest in Duran and are making a "concrete" move to sign the teenager early next year.
The report states that Chicago Fire are after a fee of €20m (£17.7m) to sanction a sale in January, but Liverpool are now facing added competition in the form of Benfica and Aston Villa.
Benfica could be in the market for a replacement for Goncalo Ramos, who is being strongly linked with a move to Manchester United after scoring a hat-trick for Portugal in the World Cup against Switzerland in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Villa are alleged to have already made contact with Duran's camp over a January move, with uncertainty hanging over the head of Brazilian winger Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool have already beaten Man United to the capture of one in-demand attacker, sealing a £37m move for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo earlier this week.
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Gakpo is understood to have signed a five-and-a-half year deal with Liverpool until the summer of 2028 and could make his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup on January 7.
The 23-year-old's arrival and Liverpool's pursuit of Duran has led to questions surrounding the future of Roberto Firmino, who is about to enter the final six months of his contract with the Reds.
However, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Jurgen Klopp expressed his desire to keep Firmino and denied that Gakpo's signing would impact his future, saying: "No.
"We had talks with Bobby. From my point of view I want him definitely to stay. It has no impact. If it affects Bobby then you'd have to ask him."
Liverpool will aim to end 2022 on a victorious note when they host Leicester City at Anfield in Friday evening's Premier League contest.
Ben Knapton
