Jurgen Klopp wants 19-cap star who is the 'epitome of a mentality player' for Liverpool - report

According to a report from German outlet SportBILD (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are interested in signing Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner. 

Having arrived in Germany from Austria in 2017, the 22-year-old playmaker came through the youth ranks at the Bundesliga club before making a senior debut in 2019.

Since then the fully-fledged senior international has amassed 100 professional appearances, directly contributing to 36 goals in that time.

Now it appears a move to the Premier League could beckon for the midfield starlet…

As per SportBILD, translated by SW, Liverpool and Manchester United are both keen on signing Baumgartner.

The report states that Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp has personally been keeping a ‘close eye’ on the 19-cap star with a view to a move in the future.

It’s claimed that the interest in the man described as the ‘epitome of a mentality player’ by manager Sebastian Hoeneß is ‘huge’ and both Anfield and Old Trafford hierarchies have him ‘on their list’ ahead of the summer window.

Despite the continued emergence of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and the seemingly imminent arrival of Fabio Carvalho, Klopp and newly appointed sporting director Julian Ward would be wise to add another midfielder before next term.

As the Reds prepare to compete in all 63 matches possible this term, the squad depth has been tested to its very limit and it’s not inconceivable that a similar workload could be imparted in the 2022/22 campaign.

Likened elsewhere to known previous Reds’ target Kai Havertz, this is a target that would make plenty of sense from a tactical perspective and Klopp looks to evolve the side once more.

So far this season, Baumgartner has scored six times and provided one assist in 29 appearances