Scout Luis Diaz 'chasing' compatriot as Chelsea take on Liverpool ahead of €10m bids

Liverpool are reportedly in contention with Chelsea to sign Colombia international Jhon Duran.

Duran joined Chicago Fire in January from Envigado for £1.5m and has eight goals and six assists in 27 appearances for the MLS side.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut for Colombia in September, replacing Radamel Falcao at half-time in the 4-1 win over Guatemala, and also featured in the 3-2 victory against Mexico.

Very center forward, Duran plays alongside former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri for Chicago and impressed last time out, scoring two fine goals to help his side to a 3-2 win over Cincinnati.

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Fire coach Ezra Hendrickson praised the Colombian after the game, describing him as a "player who, once he gets it all together, can become a really, really special player. He's got it all." the tools."

And it's entirely possible Liverpool scouts were present according to journalist Pipe Sierra, who was hot on the details of Liverpool's move for Luis Diaz in January.

He tweeted: "The same #Liverpool scout who followed Luis Díaz went to see Jhon Jáder Durán (18). 'The Reds' already know the conditions and that for 10 million euros, #ChicagoFire would leave from the Colombian".

Chelsea, Lille, Frankfurt and PSV Eindhoven were all named by Sierra as other interested parties, and his claims were backed up by US journalist Tom Bogert.

Bogert tweeted: "Big European clubs are tracking Chicago Fire wonderkid Jhon Duran. Reports say Liverpool, Chelsea in the hunt. Bids of $10m+ expected to come in soon. this winter for the 18. Fire signed Duran up to $2.5 million. He made his Colombia debut last week."

Should Liverpool sign Duran, the teenager would be in competition for a place with Darwin Nunez, who arrived at Anfield from Benfica for £85million.

His first season hasn't gone entirely to plan with just two goals so far, but manager Jurgen Klopp insists he and his team are 'really calm' about the situation and the told Nunez.

"Only yesterday we had a long conversation - with Pep Lijnders (assistant coach) because my Portuguese is still not better - and we just told him that we were really calm," Klopp said.< /p>

"It's very important in our situation that he doesn't look worried or anything.

"The team doesn't steal, and that doesn't make it easy for an attacker, especially not a finisher.

"It's not that we're not creating chances, but it's not like everything clicks and we add a player and he ends our situation.

"It's not our current situation as much as I would like it to be. That's all."

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