Liverpool Transfer News: 'New Eden Hazard' Sofiane Boufal Wanted, Latest Rumours

Liverpool are stepping up their interest in Lille starlet Sofiane Boufal, who has been branded the "new Eden Hazard," but the race for Borussia Monchengladbach's Granit Xhaka has taken a turn for the worse.

French magazine France Football reported the Reds will seek to exploit their "good relationship" with Lille in a bid to land Boufal, who has also drawn attention from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur (h/t Liverpool Echo's Joe Rimmer).

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Prising Boufal away from Lille may prove difficult, however, considering it's been a little less than a year since the 22-year-old signed from Angers in January 2015, with another three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.

The winger has made quick strides to earn his comparisons with former Lille superstar Hazard, and club captain Rio Mavuba was quoted by Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard promoting those links: “He reminds me of Eden when he was playing here. It is striking, he likes the ball, even if he plays too much sometimes. But he is young, you have to let him grow.”

Like Hazard, Boufal has shown an ability to also play more centrally, but he has produced his best form from out wide this term, netting four goals in 12 Ligue 1 appearances.

Frederic Antonetti was this week confirmed as successor to departed manager Herve Renard, but even amid Lille's dismal start to the season, Andy Scott of Agence France-Presse picked out Boufal as a rare bright spark:

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is still getting to grips with his squad, but it's plausible a winger would rank highly in his winter recruitment plans following the summer exit of Raheem Sterling.

And talkSPORT broadcaster Stan Collymore believes Klopp brings a greater allure to the Anfield helm than predecessor Brendan Rodgers, per the Sport Review: “The difference between Brendan and Klopp is that Klopp can bring names in [in the transfer window], and Rodgers couldn’t.”

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That magnetism may help the German acquire players who would otherwise be considered out of reach, and after beating Manchester City 4-1 on Saturday, Liverpool are sure to look like a more attractive destination.

But it seems unlikely that will influence the mindset of Gladbach midfielder Xhaka, who recently told Sky Deutschland he's happy in his current environment (via Daily Star's Marc Williams): “I am under contract until 2019 here and I am really enjoying life at the club. This is all that matters to me, for the rest I have got my advisor and my father!"

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Xhaka moved to Borussia-Park from Basel in 2012 and has established himself as one of the Bundesliga's more consistent central figures, capable of playing as an anchor or in a box-to-box capacity.

If it's a passing-oriented philosophy Klopp is hoping to promote at Anfield, the Switzerland international has shown he could be the man for the job, according to the official Bundesliga Twitter account:

Reds captain Jordan Henderson has made just two appearances this season after struggling with several injury setbacks, leading to questions regarding whether new blood will be needed this January.

However, one attribute of Xhaka's that may need some taming is his temper. OptaFranz has noted the 23-year-old belongs to a rather unenviable club among the German top flight:

Borussia Monchengladbach manager Andre Schubert has made improvements since taking over at the Foals' helm this season and will be in no rush to unsettle his squad with such a significant sale.

Klopp's Bundesliga contacts may make him one of the bigger threats in Xhaka's pursuit, but it seems the player is willing to ignore any and all interest after discovering his best form in Gladbach's recent run.