Liverpool have seen a bid rejected for Japanese forward Keito Nakamura, according to reports. The 22-year-old was amongst the goals for Austrian side LASK in 2022/23, but Jurgen Klopp faces missing out on the youngster over a relatively minor discrepancy on price.
Nakamura has made two senior caps for Japan since the turn of the year. His rise to the international stage was merited by a stellar season in the Austrian Bundesliga, where he bagged 14 goals in 31 matches last term.
Such a solid return from the left wing has caught the eye of various sides in Europe’s top leagues. Eintracht Frankfurt are among them, and Foot Mercato claim that Liverpool lodged a bid of £6million, which included Nakamura heading back to LASK on loan for the upcoming season.
However, the proposal was swiftly rejected by the Austrian outfit, who want a club record £9.5m fee for their exciting youngster.
Liverpool’s reluctance to come back with an improved offer could see them miss out on Nakamura altogether. Ligue 1 side Lille are now reported to be in ‘pole position’, and the youngster is open to the move.
Nakamura made his senior breakthrough in his homeland with Gamba Osaka, before loan spells in the Netherlands and Belgium with Twente and Sint-Truidense. The forward signed for LASK in 2021, racking up 26 goals in 68 matches to date.
Mohamed Salah, 31, is now the elder statesman of Liverpool’s forward line. Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are also scrapping it out for minutes by trying to impress the boss during pre-season.
Fabio Carvalho was expected to carry the torch in future after signing from Fulham last summer, but the 20-year-old’s Liverpool career is in doubt after being sent on loan to RB Leipzig for the 2023/24 campaign.