Liverpool 'have bid rejected' for Japan international Keito Nakamura

Liverpool have had an opening bid rejected for Japan international Keito Nakamura, according to reports.

Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, while the club has also had a £37m bid for Romeo Lavia rejected by Southampton.

Jurgen Klopp's side are expected to return with an improved offer for Lavia, with transfer expert David Ornstein claiming there is a high likelihood a deal will be agreed between the two clubs.

And Klopp has seemingly set his sights on further signings this summer.

French outlet Foot Mercato (via Get French Football News) claim Liverpool have had an opening bid rejected for Japanese forward Nakamura, who plays for Austrian side LASK.

It is claimed that the Merseyside club have submitted a €7m (£6m) bid for the player, who scored 17 goals in 36 games last season.

The proposed deal would have seen Nakamura join Liverpool on a permanent contract but return to LASK on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

But their bid is said to have been swiftly rejected by the Austrian club.

French side Lille are now reported to be in pole position to sign Nakamura.

The Ligue 1 club are 'closer to meeting' LASK's asking price for the forward, which is believed to be €11m (£9.4m).

German side Einthracht Frankfurt are also interested in signing Nakamura, who has won two caps for Japan.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail claim that Premier League sides Aston Villa and Burnley are also interested in the player.

Nakamura first joined LASK from Japanese side Gamba Osaka in 2021 and has since gone on to score 26 goals in 68 appearances for the Austrian club.

He made his debut for the Japanese national side in March against Uruguay and scored his first international goal in a 6-0 win over El Salvador in June.