Liverpool Transfer News: Keita Balde Diao Interest Amid Spurs, Everton Rumours

Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly rival Liverpool for the signature of Lazio forward Keita Balde Diao, while Everton are also understood to be among his suitors. 

The Mirror's Darren Lewis reported on the Premier League trio's interest in Balde, and although he's refusing to sign a new contract in Rome, that's understood to be because he's holding out for a summer switch to Juventus.

The 22-year-old scored 16 goals and recorded three assists in 34 appearances for Lazio last season, and Liverpool will be hard-pressed to win his services with Juve and Tottenham also in the conversation.

Last season was Balde's fourth senior term in Serie A and a coming-of-age campaign for the youngster, who has also been linked with a move to AC Milan, per Gianluca Di Marzio reporter David Amoyal:

Although a left-winger by nature, the speedster flourished in a supporting striker role particularly over the past year, and he has also shown a tendency to star on the right flank, offering superb versatility.

Liverpool already have one genuine star out wide in the form of Sadio Mane, Balde's international team-mate, and Reds fans may relish the thought of seeing the pair of Senegal internationals tearing down their wings.

However, that also poses a problem for Liverpool in that when the Africa Cup of Nations rolls around—next due in 2019—manager Jurgen Klopp runs the risk of losing two of his most valuable attacking options due to international duty.

It could be a risk worth running, though, after Balde enjoyed a breakout term in 2016-17, and Squawka recently provided a profile on the player, including his greatest strengths and what he could bring to Anfield:

Philippe Coutinho currently patrols Liverpool's left side but could be moved to adopt the No. 10 role as his own, while Klopp could shift Roberto Firmino to take the central striking role on a long-term basis.

That would mean a harder time for the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in their attempts to crack Liverpool's XI, but many would argue Balde to be a superior option to either of those fringe figures.