Liverpool Transfer News: Juventus Enter Mahmoud Dahoud Race, Latest Reds Rumours

Serie A champions Juventus will reportedly make a move for Liverpool target Mahmoud Dahoud next summer, potentially sparking a transfer battle for the Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker between two of Europe's biggest clubs.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via the Sun's Jamie Gordon), the Reds will go "toe-to-toe" with the Italian giants for the 20-year-old German, whose bargain £8.5 million release clause will kick in next summer.

Per the report, Gladbach have been unable to get Dahoud to commit to a new contract with a more significant release clause, and his current deal will expire in 2018.

Liverpool's best chance of snapping him up ahead of Juve might then be to offer over £8.5 million in January and tempt Gladbach into cashing in early.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has an excellent record of developing young talent and would potentially be the ideal manager to help Dahoud advance.

He has all the attributes to become a top-class midfielder, boasting both defensive capabilities as well as attacking intent, per WhoScored.com:

It seems unlikely that Liverpool will be able to sign one of their other young German targets, Max Meyer, any time soon after the 20-year-old insisted he is happy at current club Schalke, per Sport1 (via talkSPORT).

Dahoud would be an excellent alternative signing—although he plays a little deeper than Meyer in central midfield—while also being a potentially superb long-term purchase.

He enjoyed a breakout season in the Bundesliga last term, scoring five goals and providing eight assists in 32 appearances, per WhoScored.

According to German football expert Stefan Bienkowski (via This is Anfield's Henry Jackson), Dahoud could be an "ideal long-term partner to Emre Can."

Certainly, the prospect of Dahoud playing in a midfield two with Can behind Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge is a very exciting one.

However, if Liverpool do end up in a battle with Juve for the youngster's signature they may struggle to lure him to Anfield.

The Italians are perennial Serie A champions and regularly make the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League, a potentially more attractive prospect for Dahoud than struggling to make the top four in the Premier League, as Liverpool have regularly done in recent years.