Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel is set to leave the club at the end of the season, according to their Sporting Director, who also revealed that they have already received an offer, as per the Mirror.
The Belgium international, 27, had been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool reported to have an interest in the defensive midfielder.
#LFC will reportedly rival #Juventus for the signing of Belgium international Axel Witsel...https://t.co/3eHOtA7DWQ pic.twitter.com/rL31QcQyRs
The move never materialised, but reports suggest the Reds could renew their interest in the former Benfica star after Zenit's Sporting Director, Maksim Mitrofanov, revealed that Witsel would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
However, he disclosed that they had already received an offer for the midfielder's services, but refused to name the club.
He said: "The club have no intention to extend Witsel's deal. Witsel doesn't want to leave us until the end of his deal [but] we have already had an offer".
Serie A champions Juventus also made a bid for Witsel, as well as Everton, but their €25m bid for the midfielder was rejected by the Russian club. It is understood Witsel rejected Everton's approach, in order to join the Italian side.
He recently revealed his frustration at Zenit's refusal of Juve's bid and is hopeful the Italian giants will renew their interest next year.
"It's really hard [to take],"? he told Belgian media RTBF. "I still have to thank Juventus because they did everything for me until the end.
"It's a shame that Zenit did not accept €25m when I had a year left on my contract.
"I'm disappointed because I went there and passed medical tests, so I saw myself at Juventus in my head, but it didn't happen.
"These are things that happen in football. I won't start feeling depressed, that's life.
"My fate was to play for Juventus but not yet. We'll see what'll happen next year."
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