£40m signing would give Liverpool best defence in Europe

Liverpool must enter race for Nathan Ake.

Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake is attracting attention with his recent performances and rightly so.

The Daily Star report Tottenham and Manchester United are considering moves for the £40 million rated talent.

Liverpool should also enter the race.

It would be easy for the Reds to back off, citing Joe Gomez's recent form.

Behind that, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip offer strength in depth behind Virgil van Dijk.

This is the time for Liverpool to get ruthless with Lovren, who is 29, and move him aside for Ake, six years younger.

Ake is competing to earn a spot alongside Virgil van Dijk at international level with Holland, and Liverpool should try to think long term and bring him aboard.

Signing Ake would allow Jurgen Klopp greater flexibility to play with a back three, and there would be no getting past Van Dijk, Gomez and Ake, with Alisson in goal behind them.

Europe's very best attacks would struggle, especially if full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold continue their development.

Ake possesses a combination of pace, power and technical ability which is reminiscent of Van Dijk, and instead of letting him head to a rival, Liverpool should double down on a strength, and start planning beyond Lovren.