Fenerbahce up the ante for Liverpool defensive target – report

Fenerbahce have upped their asking price for reported Liverpool and Brighton target Simon Kjaer, according to a report.

The central defender has historically been on Liverpool’s list of targets, while Brighton have recently registered an interest in the player, according to talkSPORT.

Now though with interest picking up in the Denmark international his club Fener have upped his price from £13million to £17.5million, according to Turkish publication Fanatik.

The 67-cap centre-back has two years left on his deal on Turkey and Monaco, PSG and Lyon are all in the race to sign the player.

The report claims “Liverpool and AC Milan remain at the front of the queue” for Kjaer and Jurgen Klopp is actively looking for a defender to add to his squad at Anfield.

Kjaer, who labelled Zlatan Ibrahimovic an “arrogant, chest-puffing player”, appeared 43 games times for the Istanbul last season, scoring three goals and claiming one assist.

After clashing with Ibrahimovic in the Europa League last season, he told Swedish channel 9: “I actually didn’t hear what he said but I do know that he wasn’t happy.

“But that’s the way I know him from the pitch. He is the kind of chest-puffing player, who is arrogant.”