Liverpool line up £22.3m bid for star midfielder who turned down Arsenal

LIVERPOOL are preparing a bid for Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet, according to reports.

 

Dennis Praet previously turned down a move to Arsenal in 2010

 

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a target for Italian club Fiorentina in recent weeks, according to website GianlucaDiMarzio.

However, the Serie A club have reportedly been warded off by Anderlecht's hefty £22.3million asking price, paving the way for a Liverpool swoop.

The Mirror claim Anfield chiefs will sanction the necessary fees to complete the deal, teaming Praet up with fellow Belgian internationals Christian Benteke, Divock Origi and Simon Mignolet.

 

Praet's agent Jacques Lichtenstein has previously revealed Praet's desire to move on from Anderlecht, talking up interest from big-name clubs.

"What can he gain by spending one more season at Anderlecht where he has already played for three years and has contributed to three back-to-back league titles?" he told Voetbal international.

"Dennis will not just play for any club - he can join the likes of Valencia, Liverpool, Arsenal or Atletico Madrid."

 

When Praet was a teenager he had the chance to join the Gunners from former club Genk in 2010, but the move fell through after the Belgian opted to remain in education.

"I was 16 when I went to do a test at Arsenal," he revealed. "I played a match with the reserves, I visited the training complex and I went through training with the first team. I never met Arsene Wenger.

"The move to Arsenal fell through because I gave priority to school, 100 per cent absolutely to I wanted to finish my school and at Anderlecht I could make the perfect combination."