Liverpool are beginning to make some moves as the transfer market officially swings open.
The Reds are in the middle of a transitional summer, with Jurgen Klopp having left the club at the end of the season.
As Arne Slot begins his tenure at Anfield, there are some clear adjustments that need to be made to his Liverpool squad.
Chief among those changes is almost certainly making sure a new centre-half is brought in. But it’s apparent that Liverpool are also going to try and sign another attacker.
All sorts of names have so far been linked with the Reds, and according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the club are refusing to deny the chances of one in particular rocking up at Anfield this summer.
Liverpool not ruling out Johan Bakayoko move
Quite what type of forward Liverpool would like to sign really depends on who you ask. Some will see a successor to Mohamed Salah as the priority, while others will feel a need to improve upon Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunez is more important.
But given that Salah’s contract expires next year and there is little sign of a new one being on the way, the Reds need to get a move on with their succession plan for the Egyptian.
There are players out there who are certainly worth considering. Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, for example, is one who keeps being brought up.
Another who has been linked with Liverpool for some time now is PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko.
READ MORE: Five wingers Liverpool could realistically sign this summer
Bakayoko had a great season with PSV and looks set to light up the Euros for Belgium this summer, too.
And speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that Liverpool are not denying that they like Bakayoko.
“I keep hearing Johan Bakayoko’s name and it’s not being denied, they like him a lot,” says Bailey. “I think he’s very high on their list. They’ve got options out there, they’re doing their work on a lot of players.
“Bakayoko is a fascinating one, we know Liverpool like him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he emerges as one of their main targets,” adds the reporter.”
When can Liverpool fans watch Johan Bakayoko at Euro 2024?
With all the rumours surrounding Bakayoko, Liverpool fans are going to want to get a look at him during the current European Championship.
Having made his debut for Belgium in March 2023, Bakayoko has gone on to win 12 caps for his country.
After playing just 25 minutes of the Red Devil’s final warm-up game against Luxembourg, it’s perhaps unlikely that Bakayoko will be a starter for Domenico Tedesco in Germany.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old has been called an ‘elite talent’ by the likes of journalist Fabrizio Romano [Caught Offside]. If he can get on the pitch, Bakayoko will surely make an impact.
His first opportunity to do so will be on Monday, June 17th when Belgium face Slovakia. They then play Romania on Saturday, June 22nd and Ukraine on Wednesday, June 26th.
If he does well, don’t expect Liverpool to have a problem paying Bakayoko’s reported £43m price-tag.