Liverpool are in pole position to sign Derby County midfielder Will Hughes, according to reports.

The England U21 starlet has been a target for the Reds' for a while, with MirrorFootball last month revealing he could be a January target, alongside Basel winger Mohamed Salah.

According to Metro, Brendan Rodgers' side are invreasinly certain they will land the 18-year-old.

Hughes has been linked with a number of top-flight clubs in the past year, with Manchester United and Arsenal joining Liverpool in the race for his signature.

With Hughes' list of potential suitors increasing, Rodgers is preparing to up his original offer and get one over on Liverpool's Premier League rivals.

The Anfield club were expected to finalise a deal in the summer, but then-Derby boss Nigel Clough pleaded with the teenager to stay at Pride Park.

But now it appears the Championship club are willing to let him go, should his £12m valuation be reached.

Hughes has scored three times for the Rams in this campaign, flourishing in a playmaker role under new manager Steve McClaren.

He has also become an integral part of the England Under-21 set-up despite being one of the youngest faces in Gareth Southgate's squad.

The 18-year-old appeared in the 3-0 win over Finland on Thursday night, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nathaniel Chalobah.

Source: Daily Mirror