Have Liverpool, Southampton been dealt a blow in Andreas Christensen pursuit?

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Liverpool and Southampton are reportedly interested in Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen.

According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool and Southampton are among the clubs interested in signing Andreas Christensen from Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City and Leicester City are also reported to be interested in the 21-year-old Denmark international defender.

The youngster is hugely talented and very promising, and is enjoying a good season on a personal level at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Christensen joined Monchengladbach on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea in the summer of 2015, and is expected to return to the Blues in the summer.

Given the strength and depth of the current Chelsea squad, it would be hard for the Dane to break into Antonio Conte’s first team next season.

The (reported) interest of Liverpool and Southampton in Christensen does make sense, as both the Reds and the Saints could do with signing a new defender in the summer transfer window.

However, it seems that the two Premier League teams may struggle to sign the youngster, as Monchengladbach have confirmed their interest in him.

“We will lose him, because he has to return,” Goal.com quotes Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl as saying about Christensen. “This is certain.

“But, if he does pre-season at Chelsea and then does not play the role that he hopes to, we have the chance to talk again as a club where he has gained two years’ good experience.

“It could also be that he plays. Or it may be the case that they want to sell him for €25 million (£21.48m), then we would be out of the race.

“But there are still these opportunities, because Andreas is incredibly comfortable in Gladbach and he, I think, would like to stay in Gladbach.”

Having been successful at Monchengladbach, it would make sense for Christensen to return to the Bundesliga outfit and continue his development there if he fails to convince Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in the summer, especially as he seems to be happy at the German club. This means that Liverpool and Southampton could miss out.