Liverpool given green light for "massive" £20m target, he'd be Klopp's own Bellingham - opinion

Liverpool were linked with a move for Carney Chukwuemeka earlier in the summer transfer window, and now a new update from a reliable source has given the club the green light to advance on their interest.

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has given an update on Aston Villa youngster Chukwuemeka’s future.

Romano tweeted: “Aston Villa are now open to selling Carney Chukwuemeka – they have set an asking price around £20m for the player who’s in the last year of his contract.”

Liverpool have been heavily speculated to make a move for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham next summer, but what if the Reds could sign and develop their very own £103m star at the fraction of the price?

Rarely-seen Villa youngster Chukwuemeka has been attracting attention from many of the biggest clubs in Europe this summer, with Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Juventus all named as potential suitors for the player.

Liverpool legend and Villa boss Steven Gerrard had hoped the 18-year-old would become a “big player” in his project when speaking out on the midfielder last season.

“Hopefully he is going to be a big player for Aston Villa,” he said. “We want him to stay here long-term. We believe this is the best place for Carney. I hope that situation progresses in a positive way.”

Since then, Chukwuemeka has been left out of the squad that travelled to Australia for pre-season this summer, amid a lack of progression in the player’s commitment to a new contract that would extend his stay at Villa Park beyond next summer.

The young midfielder hailed a “massive talent” by journalist James Hendicott has been impressing on the international stage