Liverpool are reportedly keeping a close eye on Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, but the Reds could face a race against time to land the Frenchman, with the Italian giants desperate to secure his future amid growing Premier League interest.

With Liverpool continuing to assess their defensive options, the 26-year-old has emerged as a potential target, particularly given his versatility and growing reputation in Serie A.

According to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, as relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all monitoring Kalulu, with Liverpool reportedly having tracked his progress for around a year.

However, Juventus have no intention of making life easy for his potential suitors. The Turin club are understood to be working towards a new contract for the defender, hoping to finalise an agreement before the end of 2026 and prevent Europe's wealthiest clubs from tempting him away.

Kalulu's rise has been impressive since leaving AC Milan for Juventus, where he has developed into an important figure in the club's defensive setup.

Having previously helped Milan secure the Serie A title in 2021/22, the Frenchman has continued to mature, establishing himself as a reliable option under Luciano Spalletti.

Although naturally comfortable at centre-back, Kalulu has predominantly featured on the right side of defence, while his ability to operate as a wing-back adds another dimension to his game.

For Liverpool, that flexibility could prove particularly attractive. With Virgil van Dijk approaching the latter stages of his career, Joe Gomez's long-term future regularly attracting speculation and the Reds needing dependable defensive depth, recruiting a player capable of covering multiple positions would make considerable sense.

Kalulu would also offer Andoni Iraola another tactical option, particularly when switching between defensive systems or requiring additional protection against dangerous opposition attacks.

His pace, positional awareness and experience competing at the highest level could make him an interesting addition to Liverpool's backline.

Liverpool's biggest obstacle might not be Manchester United or Newcastle, however, but Juventus themselves.

The Italian side are reportedly accelerating contract negotiations following growing interest from England and Paris Saint-Germain, who are believed to view Kalulu as potential competition for Achraf Hakimi.

While reports suggest Liverpool have maintained their interest, there is currently no confirmation of a formal approach or an offer from Anfield.

For Liverpool's recruitment department, the decision could ultimately come down to whether Kalulu represents genuine value in an increasingly expensive defensive market.

Whether Liverpool decide to turn their reported interest into something more concrete remains to be seen.

But with Juventus moving to protect one of their most dependable defenders, Liverpool may need to act sooner rather than later if they genuinely intend to bring the Frenchman to Anfield.

Would you like to see Liverpool sign Pierre Kalulu? Leave your thoughts and comments below.