Liverpool are spluttering into life as the transfer window officially gets underway.
Unlike in previous years, the Reds have failed to do any early business this summer. It has been a quiet few weeks.
Nevertheless, it does look likely that Liverpool will make a couple of additions to bolster the first-team squad.
One of those appears certain to be at centre-back. Liverpool are interested in signing Leny Yoro and if the youngster doesn’t join Real Madrid he could well end up at Anfield.
As well as in defence though, the Reds could do with making a signing in midfield. With that in mind, Arne Slot is reportedly preparing an offer get that sorted.
Liverpool prepared to pay £38m for Ederson
In terms of sheer numbers, Liverpool possibly have enough in midfield for next season. The problem is that they still don’t look to have a long-term solution in defensive midfield.
Stefan Bajcetic coming back to fitness will help in this regard, but it remains to be seen how the 19-year-old reacts to missing virtually a full season-and-a-half of football.
As a result, it would be safer for Liverpool to plough ahead and bring someone new in.
READ MORE: Ederson shares how he feels about playing in the Premier League amid Liverpool links
One candidate looks likely to be Atalanta midfielder Ederson. The Brazilian had an eye-catching season in Serie A, winning the Europa League with La Dea.
Ederson was fantastic in the final against Bayer Leverkusen and at 24 still has his best years ahead of him. He’s the kind of player you can see doing well at Liverpool.
So, it’s no surprise to see Tutto Atalanta report that Ederson is very much on Slot’s shortlist this summer.
They claim that Liverpool are prepared to pay around £38m to sign the Brazil international. For the time being it’s said to be unclear whether this would be enough to tempt Atalanta into a sale.
Gian Piero Gasperini hails ‘world class’ Ederson
Liverpool will likely have been aware of Ederson’s quality for some time now. They don’t tend to target players on the back of purple patches.
He was impressive against the Reds in the Europa League in April though and that can’t have harmed his chances of a move to Anfield.
Another who caught the attention over those two legs was Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
And in quotes from Tutto Atalanta, Gasperini hailed the quality of Ederson, admitting that his team would be losing a ‘world class talent’ if he was to leave.
“Keeping a player like Ederson in Bergamo would mean keeping a world-class talent,” says the manager. “We hope to succeed, even if it is always a challenge for us to keep players in such demand.”
Liverpool look set to test the Italian’s resolves. Let’s see how it plays out.