Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Luan and Christian Fuchs Rumours

Liverpool have reportedly made a £30 million offer for Gremio's Luan, according to Brazilian media, while the Reds are said to be keeping an eye on the contract situation of Leicester City's Christian Fuchs.

According to Brazilian radio station Futebol da Gaucha (h/t the Daily Telegraph's Richard Amofa), Manchester United previously expressed an interest in Luan, an attacking midfielder who was the top breakout performer of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Gremio man became a starter for Brazil as the tournament wore on, and per Selecao Brasileira, he played a massive role in the team's run to the gold medal:

The 23-year-old falls somewhere between a traditional attacking midfielder like compatriot Kaka and a pure forward. He mostly leads the line for Gremio, but Brazil used him behind the attacking trio of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa to great effect.

Like so many of his compatriots, Luan is very capable with the ball at his feet, using his dribbling abilities and great vision to devastating effect. He has great timing with his passes and runs, but his finishing is still a work in progress.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Luan has solid athleticism and is definitely fast enough for the counter-attacking style of football Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp loves to play. As far as his fit goes, there are few questions he would blossom at Anfield.

But £30 million is a massive fee for a player who hasn't really stood out at Gremio all that much and may not have a lot of room for improvement. His lack of consistent production in Brazil is a cause for concern―the Brazilian top division isn't known for its great defending, and forwards usually put up far bigger numbers than he has over the years.

His versatility is an asset the Reds could exploit, allowing him to slide into a team that already features the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, but his lack of a clearly defined role is also a curse―he simply doesn't stand out at one particular position.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Luan's great performance at the Olympics will boost his fee, but while it's never a bad thing to invest in young talent, Liverpool shouldn't overpay based on one excellent tournament.

He could be an excellent signing for the right fee, but the reported £30 million offer is well above what he should be worth on the market right now.

Elsewhere, the Sun on Sunday (h/t Daily Mirror) reported Liverpool are following up on Fuchs' contract negotiations with the Foxes. The Austria international is yet to agree to terms with the Premier League champions, and according to the latest reports, negotiations are not going smoothly.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

The 30-year-old played a major role in Leicester's run to the title last year, his first season in England after a lengthy spell with Schalke 04. He quickly became a popular figure with the fans for his consistent performances, and the Foxes have used him extensively for marketing over the last few months, taking advantage of his popularity.

Here he is in a short video with Hollywood star Will Ferrell:

His contract will run out next season, and given his age, Fuchs is likely looking for a big payday, something he has earned after years in Germany and his solid campaign last season. Leicester face a real battle to keep their championship team together―he's not the only player who will need a new deal.

Liverpool have struggled fixing the left-back position for some time now, and Fuchs could provide a cost-effective, veteran option who would slide right into the team and could hold the spot down for a couple of years.

An extension with Leicester still seems more likely at this point, but if he hasn't signed a new deal by January, expect to hear more of this rumour.