Liverpool open negotiation to beat Chelsea and Arsenal to £40million rated star

According to reports, Liverpool have made the first approach to signing Leicester City playmaker Riyad Mahrez, who has also been heavily linked with Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Algeria international attacking midfielder is one of the best players in the English Premier League on his day and has made a good start to this campaign for the Foxes.

A midfielder with flair, impressive pace and a good goal scorer, the African could be ideal in for Liverpool in the attack, which looks ready to be weakened with the exit of Brazil international playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

Times suggest Spanish la Liga giants FC Barcelona are ready to pay about £142million for the attacking midfielder, with the midfielder himself believed to be confident a move will materialize.

Liverpool indeed needs a replacement, and L’Equipe now suggest Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have initiated negotiations over bringing in Mahrez to replace the outgoing Coutinho in attacking midfield.

This could be bad news for Liverpool rivals, with Le Buteur recently linking Mahrez, 26, with the Gunners, while the Sun claims the Blues could make a move for him as their next winter target.

As regards a fee, the Metro suggest Leicester City wanted £40m for the Leicester man in the summer transfer window when AS Roma came short of meeting their asking price for the player.