Liverpool could sign £145,000-a-week star for free this summer, he's exactly what they need

It is no secret that Liverpool will be in the market for midfield reinforcements when the summer transfer window opens.

A thumping 7-0 win over bitter rivals Manchester United may have silenced the critics for now but with Liverpool still fifth in the Premier League and facing potential elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid next week, concerns remain over the squad – and in particular the midfield.

With Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara not performing at the level of previous seasons, and with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to leave the club on free transfers, Liverpool are expected to sign several new players this summer.

Jude Bellingham is top of the transfer list for Liverpool, who are reported to be favourites to sign the Borussia Dortmund star – if he leaves the Bundesliga club.

However, Dortmund are keen to keep the England international are expected to demand £132m for him this summer, should he seek an exit.

Liverpool may therefore need to look for cut-price options elsewhere to free up funds for Bellingham.

Liverpool 'interested in signing Rabiot'

One such option is Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is out of contract with the Italian club this summer.

The France international, who impressed at the World Cup in Qatar this winter, is free to negotiate a pre-contract with foreign clubs as he is now in the final six months of his deal.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing the midfielder but face competition from the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United.

The report claims that sources close to Rabiot have revealed he wants a 'huge' contract to cash in on his free agent status.

Rabiot currently earns around £145,000-a-week in Turin and would expect an increase on this salary if he was to move to the Premier League on a free transfer.

Rabiot keen to return to England

Rabiot, who was strongly linked with Manchester United last summer, has previously spoken about his desire to return to English football after enjoying a brief stint at Manchester City when he was a youngster.

Rabiot said: "It was very good experience. I didn’t do a whole season, though. Everything went well whilst I was there.

"I really liked the atmosphere, I liked the atmosphere around football. It's really something that is only in England. It's different from France and Italy.

"I have always said that I'd like to play in England in my career. Will it happen at the end of my career in Juventus? I don't know.

"But yeah I still have that desire [to play in the Premier League]. I'd like to evolve in the Premier League."