Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign left-back Andrew Robertson – but Hull want Ryan Kent to help sweeten the deal.
The Liverpool Echo claim that the Merseyside giants are closing in on the signing of Robertson, 23, for a fee of £8million.
It is said that Hull want left winger Kent, 20, to go the other way and smooth the path for Robertson to become a Liverpool player, although the transfer is not dependent on it.
Hull are keen for Kent to sign on a season-long loan and believe they can gain an edge on the player’s other suitors through the negotiations that will imminently take the Scotland international to Anfield.
Leeds United and Birmingham City are reportedly among the Championship clubs who have registered interest in taking the Liverpool winger for the 2017-18 campaign.
Kent had a successful loan at second-tier Barnsley last season that ended with him being named the club’s young player of the year, and spent the second half of 2015-16 at League One side Coventry.
He played for Liverpool in their second half of their pre-season friendly win against Tranmere on Wednesday night but was not involved against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Friday night.
The imminent arrival of Robertson will pave the way for the erratic Spaniard Alberto Moreno to find a new club amid reports that Napoli have tabled a £12million offer for him.
Manager Jurgen Klopp tasked midfielder James Milner with the senior left-back last season and he did a sound job as the team finished fourth in the Premier League.
But Liverpool are looking for long-term options on the left side of the defence and former Dundee United player Robertson will slot in to that position after three years at Hull.