Liverpool have made contact with the representatives of Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele as a potential replacement for Sadio Mane, according to Spanish outlet Sport. 

The lowdown: Man in demand

Unsurprisingly, as the one time £135.5million ace's contract heads towards its conclusion, Dembele has been attracting plenty of interest.

Out of contract on July 1st (Transfermarkt), despite the best efforts of Barcelona to keep the skilful French forward, there is yet to be an agreement on terms and as such the 25-year-old will soon be free to negotiate with clubs across Europe.

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Having previously watched on from a distance, the Reds may now have thrown their hat into the ring to sign the World Cup winner...

The latest: 'Finally' Liverpool act

As per Sport, Liverpool are said to have 'finally' made contact with the 27-cap France star's entourage regarding the possibility of a move to Merseyside.

It's claimed that Dembele is 'studying various proposals' with one of them now being from the Anfield club as well as interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

The report also states that Jurgen Klopp could be preparing for life after Mane and therefore would view the winger once dubbed a 'devastating player' by journalist Andy West as a potential replacement in the Reds' squad.

The verdict: Risk free option

Albeit plagued by injuries since making the switch to Spain, missing 102 matches in total, Dembele remains a fearsome prospect when fully fit and would represent a risk-free piece of business without what would be a lofty price tag in normal circumstances.

Capable of playing on either wing as well as centrally and therefore adding to the firepower at Klopp's disposal, the versatile forward holds a stylistic likeness to well renowned attacking names such as PSG superstar Neymar and Bayern Munich duo Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry (Fbref), making the Frenchman a major coup, particularly on a free transfer.

Directly contributing to 15 goals in a relatively injury-free 2021/22 campaign, new Liverpool transfer guru Julian Ward should be all over adding Dembele to the ranks as a priority this summer.

In other news, one Liverpool player has hinted at a summer exit. Find out who it is here.