Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Franck Kessie and Gabriel Barbosa

Liverpool could reportedly have to battle Premier League rivals Chelsea in their attempts to sign Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Joe Rimmer in the Liverpool Echo), the Blues have met with Kessie's agent to discuss a potential January move for the 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

However, Calciomercato.it (via Sport Witness' Lucas Sposito) recently claimed Liverpool are leading the race to sign Kessie, as they are prepared to offer between €20 million (£16.8 million) and €25 million (£21 million), which is more than other suitors, including Juventus, would be prepared to pay.  

Sposito added that Atalanta's preference would be to keep Kessie until the end of the season, so it may well be that no team signs him in January.

It seems clear, though, that Liverpool are interested in the youngster and will face challengers if and when they decide to move for him.

Kessie is enjoying a breakout season in Serie A and has netted five goals and provided one assist in 14 league appearances, per WhoScored.com.

The Ivory Coast international is a powerful and skilful central midfielder who has been dubbed by some as the next Yaya Toure, per Italian football expert Adam Digby on Unibet.

As can be seen below, he boasts significant talent:

Kessie could be a fine addition to Liverpool's central-midfield unit and would add power and mobility to their somewhat lightweight engine room. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool target Gabriel Barbosa could reportedly be available in January, having barely played for Inter Milan since his summer move to the San Siro from Santos.

The 20-year-old Brazil international has been handed just 16 minutes of Serie A action in 2016-17, and the Mirror's James Whaling suggested Liverpool could now move for him.

Whaling cited comments from Gabriel's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, in which he told Radio Globo that his client has been humiliated by his lack of playing time (via Football Italia):

"

Everyone knows the salary which Gabriel receives at Inter isn’t sustainable for Santos, no club [in Brazil] can afford him. 

I was contacted by a club from Rio and one from Minas to take Gabriel on loan, but I can’t guarantee anything. What I want is for my client to no longer be humiliated. 

Why isn’t he playing? Not even Inter can answer that. 

When he came from Brazil they said he wasn’t ready physically, but now he’s in great shape. The truth is that they haven’t even given him a chance. 

Gabriel was a starter at Santos, called up by Brazil and has been an Olympic champion. Then he was sold for an amazing figure. 

We’ll resolve this situation in January, he has a five-year contract but that doesn’t mean anything if he isn’t playing. 

He’s unhappy right now.

"

It seems highly likely, then, that the versatile forward could be available in January, and Gabriel could complement the likes of Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho well under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's tutelage.