Liverpool are prepared to pay Borussia Dortmund a staggering £61.2m to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer, according to Le Parisien.
The French newspaper claim the Merseyside giants have set their sights firmly on the prolific Bundesliga striker as they aim to build a squad capable of competing for the Premier League title next season.
Le Parisien report that Liverpool’s American owners FSG are ready to “strike hard” at the negotiating table in an attempt to land one of the most lethal forwards in world football.
It is said that Anfield manager Jurgen Klopp has made initial soundings to Aubameyang and the initial response is that the Gabon international is open to what would be a sensational transfer.
Aubameyang worked under Klopp during the German’s time in charge of Dortmund after he was signed from French club Saint Etienne for £11million in the summer of 2013.
The striker has an outstanding record for the Bundesliga club, where he has scored 120 goals from 189 matches in four seasons.
In the 2016-17 campaign, Aubameyang enhanced his reputation further by leading the Bundesliga charts with 31 league goals from 32 matches and striking 40 times from 46 appearances in all competitions.
He has a contract at Dortmund that runs until 2020.
Liverpool’s firm interest is likely to send their fans into a frenzy given Aubameyang’s pedigree and the club’s need for an authentic spearhead who can be a reliable and regular source of goals.