Liverpool have approval to bid for target as club chief addresses interest

Toulouse sporting director Viktor Bezhani has openly invited Liverpool to firm up their interest in young defender Charlie Cresswell. The Reds are in the market for a new centre-back and have reportedly taken a liking to Cresswell, who is a product of Leeds United's academy. He struggled to break into the senior squad at Elland Road and was sold to Toulouse last summer.

Cresswell has come on leaps and bounds since moving to France, having established himself as a first-team regular. He also excelled alongside Liverpool playmaker Harvey Elliott as England under-21s won the Euros earlier this summer. His form has reportedly alerted the Reds to the possibility of a move before the end of the window.

Toulouse chief Bezhani has welcomed Liverpool's interest with open arms, telling L'Equipe that he would be happy to entertain realistic offers for Cresswell.

"We are delighted by the amount of interest in our players." he said. "It shows that we are doing good things and that the rest of Europe is watching us. It isn't a secret, if a good offer arrives, we'll have a look at it."

There is a gap in Liverpool's squad for a young centre-back following Jarell Quansah's recent move to Bayer Leverkusen. It remains to be seen if they will go for Cresswell, who would qualify as a homegrown player in the Premier League.

The Reds have also been linked with Parma teenager Giovanni Leoni and Wolfsburg youngster Konstantinos Koulierakis.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has also been tipped to join Liverpool after entering the final year of his deal at Selhurst Park. However, he is viewed as more of a market opportunity given his contract situation and his ability to perform at the highest level.

Reports have suggested that while Liverpool are the frontrunners to sign Guehi, there is no guarantee that he will leave Crystal Palace before the end of the window.

Oliver Glasner recently insisted that Guehi will decide his own future, saying: "I can't speak, you have to ask Marc. At the end, it's always the player's decision. Marc decides about his future.

"Of course, everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract. It will be his decision. Everybody wants to keep this squad together as it did so well.

"I don't know how often this happens here at Palace. We never know what will happen in this sometimes crazy transfer market."

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