Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Increase Christian Pulisic Interest, Top Rumours

Liverpool will reportedly increase their interest in Borussia Dortmund's teenage forward Christian Pulisic. The Reds are said to be ready to accelerate a possible January bid for 18-year-old Pulisic following the injury to Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will step up his interest in Pulisic after seeing Coutinho ruled out, according to Simon Jones of MailOnline.

He also detailed the other factors pushing Klopp toward adding to the Anfield club's forward line this winter: "Coutinho is facing six weeks out with ankle ligament damage and, coupled with the long-term injury of Danny Ings and Sadio Mane's absence at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool are looking to add another attacking option."

Teenage talent Pulisic is deemed skilled and versatile enough for Liverpool's fluid attack, but Dortmund won't let him go cheaply, per Jones: "Pulisic is versatile as he can play on either wing or through the middle behind the striker, though it is understood it would take close to £25million for Dortmund to even consider selling."

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Jones detailed how Dortmund don't want to sell but may not have a choice since Pulisic has previously indicated he'd welcome the chance to play in England's top flight.

Liverpool seem like a logical fit for the flexible forward and not just because of Klopp's connections in Germany. The former Dortmund manager was credited with making an offer for Pulisic at the end of the summer transfer window, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl.

He also indicated Liverpool could return with a bid in January for the American attacker who rejected the offer of a new five-year contract from Dortmund.

The need for a winter bid has increased since Coutinho suffered ankle ligament damage during the recent 2-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League, per Goal's Melissa Reddy. Once the extent of the injury was confirmed, Coutinho was ruled out for up to as much as six weeks, according to MailOnline's Danny Gallagher.

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Losing Coutinho means being without a player who adds flair, creativity and goals from multiple positions in the final third. The South American No. 10 can operate as a central playmaker or from either flank.

Pulisic makes sense as an alternative, but it would represent a big step up. He'd be transitioning from thriving sporadically for Dortmund, often off the bench, to trying to keep Liverpool's bid for the Premier League title on track.

It's also worth noting how he still has value for Dortmund. Manager Thomas Tuchel guides a team overflowing with forward-thinking players.

Mario Gotze, Shinji Kagawa, Andre Schurrle, Ousmane Dembele, Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang form an enviable contingent of attackers. Yet it's a group that still benefits from the support of a game-changer like Pulisic.

It's why Pulisic is such an exciting prospect who merits the interest he's been drawing. In fact, he's also been linked with La Liga giants Barcelona, per Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sports Illustrated).

Pulisic is technically accomplished in possession and intelligent off the ball. Those are the qualities Klopp has built Liverpool's title charge around.

While there's no doubt £25 million is a steep fee for a player so young, Klopp may feel he can justify the investment if it means his squad won't be left short up top for the second half for the season.