Liverpool is monitoring Bologna defender Sam Beukema, who Arne Slot previously tried to sign during his time at Feyenoord.

Get Italian Football News reports that it is Slot who is driving Liverpool's interest in the center-back, a player that's been a mainstay for Bologna in Serie A and the Champions League this season.

Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid are also credited with an interest in Beukema, whose strengths are his composure on the ball as well as his aerial ability.

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Beukema started for Bologna at Anfield earlier this season, when Liverpool recorded a 2-0 win in the Champions League, and ahead of that match it emerged that Slot had tried to sign the 26-year-old when the pair were both operating in the Netherlands.

Beukema was playing for Dutch second-tier side Go Ahead Eagles when Slot attempted to convince the center-back to make the move to Feyenoord.

While Beukema eventually opted to join AZ Alkmaar instead, his meeting with Slot left a lasting impression, as he recalled to The Athletic earlier this year just how surprised he was that Slot knew so much about his style of play.

"There were a couple of eye-openers where I was like, 'Woah, I’ve never thought about the game like that before,'" Beukema said. “He said, 'In the build-up you’re very good but when it’s unpredictable in the midfield and you go to intercept the ball at that age (20) you sometimes lose control.' I was like, 'You’re right. I’ve never thought about that before.'"