Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Dejan Lovren and Matt O'Riley

Liverpool are reportedly considering offering centre-back Dejan Lovren a new contract in order to tie him to the club past the expiry of his current deal in 2019.

According to Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror, Lovren will join Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in being offered extended terms, with the Reds eager "to prevent rivals from swooping for their stars."

The Croatia international, 27, joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014 for £20 million, having enjoyed an excellent 2013-14 campaign in the Premier League.

His first season at Anfield was disappointing as he put in a number of shaky displays under then-manager Brendan Rodgers, per James Pearce in the Liverpool Echo.

However, he has made improvements under current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and is now one of the German's key defenders.

Per WhoScored.com, Lovren has started five of Liverpool's seven Premier League games so far in 2016-17 and is starting to form a decent centre-back partnership with summer arrival Joel Matip.

The one goal he has scored so far this term was a vital one as he netted the opener in Liverpool's 2-1 away victory over Chelsea in September.

Liverpool still have problems in defence and continue to concede too many goals—the 10 they have let in so far in the new Premier League campaign is the worst defensive record of any club in the top 10.

Season	Goals Conceded	Final League Position
2015-16	50	8th
2014-15	48	6th
2013-14	50	2nd
2012-13	43	7th

But after a rocky start to his Anfield career, Lovren has become one of the Reds' more reliable defenders, and it will be a boost to both him and the club if they can tie him down to a new contract soon.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are reportedly set to battle Arsenal and Manchester City in an attempt to sign Fulham teenager Matt O’Riley.

According to Warren Haughton in the Sun, O'Riley, 15, is widely regarded as one of the top young prospects in the country, and he could leave Craven Cottage for a "fee in excess of £1 million."

Haughton added that O'Riley's performances for Fulham's under-18 outfit "have alerted the Premier League big boys," and though the Championship side are "desperate" to hold on to the midfielder, he has yet to sign with the club's academy.

The below video shows a glimpse of what he can do:

O'Riley has been compared to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, and his technical ability has impressed many given his youth.

The teenager is a star to watch for the future, but Liverpool will likely need to give O'Riley assurances they can best nurture his talent if they are to beat City and Arsenal in the race to sign him.