Liverpool are reportedly monitoring the progress of Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup.
The Denmark youth international rose through the youth ranks with Danish outfit Brondby between 2014 and 2022, making 93 appearances for the first team and contributing three goals and four assists.
Frendrup won one Danish Superliga title and one Danish Cup during his time with Brondby, who sold him to Genoa for €3.9m (£3.4m) in the winter of 2022.
During his first full season with the Italian club, Frendrup played a fundamental role in Genoa's promotion from Serie B, starting 32 second-tier games and coming up with two goals as Il Grifone finished as runners-up to Frosinone.
As Genoa made waves in Serie B, Frendrup was deployed in a variety of roles for the Italian outfit, playing as a number eight, number six, right midfielder and left-back on occasion.
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The 22-year-old has continued on an upward trajectory in the early weeks of the 2023-24 campaign, setting up four goals in 13 games under Alberto Gilardino, who has once again switched him from central to wide roles on a regular basis.
Frendrup is yet to earn his first senior cap for Denmark, but he previously represented his nation from Under-15 to Under-21 level, and his contract with Genoa runs until the summer of 2026.
According to the Anfield Watch, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Frendrup's displays and are particularly attracted to his defensive qualities, as no player in Serie A has made more than his 47 tackles so far this season.
Despite his long-running contract, Genoa supposedly do not expect to keep the 22-year-old at the club for much longer, as Liverpool are just one of several teams queuing up to present offers.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke oversaw a significant engine room reshuffle in the summer window, as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Leighton Clarkson, Naby Keita and James Milner bid their farewells.
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Having decided against putting all their eggs in the Jude Bellingham basket, Liverpool used their funds to add four new fulcrums to the ranks in Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
While Endo is naturally a number six, Mac Allister has often started as Klopp's deepest-lying midfielder this season, although the Argentine may not continue in that role for the long-term.
One player who survived Liverpool's summer cull was Thiago Alcantara, but the Spaniard is yet to play this season due to a hip injury and is out of contract in under 12 months' time.
Thiago is widely expected to head for the Anfield exit door when his deal runs out, and both Juventus and Inter Milan are said to be interested in a deal for the 32-year-old on a free transfer.
Fluminense's Andre is also thought to be a prime target for Liverpool, who apparently had scouts in attendance to watch the 22-year-old during Saturday's Copa Libertadores final, where he played the full 90 minutes as Fluminense defeated Boca Juniors 2-1 after extra time.
Ben Knapton
