Liverpool fight Spurs, Bayern for Bundesliga free agent

Liverpool are willing to compete with Bayern Munich to sign free agent Max Kruse.

Kruse’s contract with Werder Bremen expires this summer after a three-year spell at the Weserstadion.

The 31-year-old could be an unheralded bargain, having been named the Bundesliga’s March Player of the Month in a season that has included 12 goals and 14 assists in 36 games.

Tottenham and Inter Milan have both been credited with an interest in Kruse, but Germany’s Sport1 say Bayern ‘are already running at full speed in the background’ in their pursuit of a back-up for Robert Lewandowski.

Kruse ‘is on the candidate list’ for that spot as he is ‘more of a hanging tip or a playmaker’ than a centre-forward, meaning he would provide a different option.

The report adds that there have been ‘no concrete negotiations’ as Kruse is looking for ‘another major contract’ with ‘salary expectations in the higher single-digit million range’.

Liverpool are also named as potential suitors for the Germany international, having made a replacement for the outgoing Daniel Sturridge one of their two transfer ‘priorities’ this summer.