Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Andrea Belotti and Jean-Kevin Duverne Rumours

Liverpool reportedly lead the hunt to sign Torino striker Andrea Belotti, but Arsenal are ready to rival their Premier League peers in an effort to recruit the Italian. Meanwhile, the Reds are in a five-way tussle to sign Jean-Kevin Duverne.

According to the Sun's Warren Haughton, Liverpool and Arsenal are just two of the European powerhouses understood to be vying for Belotti's signature following a burst in production at Torino.

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The 22-year-old joined the Serie A outfit from Palermo in 2015 and went on to score 12 goals in 36 total appearances for Torino, taking little time to settle in among his new surroundings.

OptaPaolo pointed out Belotti has shown a particular knack for winning penalties so far this year, easing into the higher responsibilities handed to him upon joining the Bull:

Liverpool are hardly in dire need of attacking reinforcements, but Christian Benteke's summer departure to Crystal Palace has perhaps made room for another striker contender at Anfield.

Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino have shared the centre-forward role under manager Jurgen Klopp this season, while Bleacher Report's Jack Lusby recently noted the list doesn't end there:

Belotti has also picked up his scoring form where he left off last season, netting four times in just two Serie A appearances in 2016-17, bringing his goal tally up to 15 during this calendar year.

Italian outlet Calciomercato.com suggested Arsenal may be ready to jump in front of Liverpool in the race to sign the Italy international, however, per Scouts In Attendance:

Haughton's report went on to add Torino are "desperate" to retain Belotti's services, and it's of little wonder as to why, considering the leaps and bounds he's made in his development of late.

Klopp's preference to utilise England frontman Sturridge has been questioned in the past, with the manager often preferring Firmino in attack, and Belotti could pose some promising but stiff competition on Merseyside.

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Elsewhere, French magazine France Football reported Liverpool are one of five clubs said to be interested in a move for Lens starlet Jean-Kevin Duverne (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson).

According to the report, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Sunderland and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the 19-year-old centre-back, who has earned comparisons to fellow Lens alumnus Raphael Varane.