Liverpool have made direct contact with Brescia owner Massimo Cellino about a deal for Sandro Tonali.

Corriere dello Sport says Cellino, formerly of Leeds United, is said to want at least €50million (£42.7million) for Tonali, having previously claimed Liverpool have spoken to him about the midfielder.

In January last year Cellino said Liverpool "called him" about the talented teenager having sent a scout to watch him play.

Tonali - who picked up three senior Italy caps last year - has carried his impressive form into Serie A after helping Brescia achieve promotion from the Italian second tier last season.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said before Christmas: “This is an outstanding team and we never could have imagined we could get a group like this together but, of course, there will be things. A player might want to leave, which is OK, then we have to bring in the right replacement.

“To keep the level we are on we have to be really on our toes and to be on your toes you need to change sometimes a little bit and that is what we will do."