Liverpool are looking to bolster their defence during the summer transfer window.
The Reds last signed a centre-back way back in 2021, when Ibrahima Konate came onboard from RB Leipzig.
Since then, they’ve also seen Jarell Quansah burst onto the scene, although Joel Matip’s exit means it has been one-in, one-out for Liverpool.
As a result, things need a freshening up. Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger and with doubts also surrounding Van Dijk’s future, the Reds need to secure their position.
With that in mind, plenty of names have already been linked with moves to Anfield. Leny Yoro continue to be a top target, but he isn’t the only one on Liverpool’s radar.
Fabrizio Romano provides Riccardo Calafiori update
Yoro would be an exceptional signing for Liverpool. At just 18 the French youngster is already a fixture in the Lille back line.
Should Liverpool bring him in, it’s not unreasonable to think that Yoro could dominate their defence for the next decade.
With Real Madrid strongly in the picture though, other options need to be explored. One of those appears to be Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. Liverpool are said to have made an enquiry over a summer sale for the Italian.
Taking to Playback on Tuesday, journalist Fabrizio Romano gave an update over Calafiori’s situation. It seems the Reds are going to have to fight off strong interest from Juventus in order to bring the 22-year-old in.
“For Calafiori what I’m hearing is that he would be more than happy to go to Juventus because they have the same manager he had last season at Bologna, Thiago Motta,” Romano reports.
“He already agreed on personal terms weeks ago but between Juventus and Bologna the situation is complicated. Bologna were not so happy with how Thiago Motta joined Juventus so the situation is quite tense between the two clubs,” he adds.
“Also Bologna believe that if the player keeps performing like this after a fantastic season in Serie A and now at the Euros, maybe they can sell him abroad for bigger money. So, it really depends on who’s going to put big money on the table but Bologna will do their best to keep the player at the club.
“Let’s see what’s going to happen but also the player’s position is important and he already gave his green light to Juventus weeks ago.”
Liverpool set for Riccardo Calafiori battle
As with German players and Bayern Munich, it can be difficult to keep Italians away from Juventus when they come calling.
Those from the peninsula don’t tend to travel all that well when it comes to football and the pull of the biggest club in the country is hard to resist.
As a result, some will now be highly pessimistic of Arne Slot’s chances of landing Calafiori.
However, there should also be some hope there. Having left Roma for Basel in 2022, Calafiori already has a history of heading abroad to play his football. Presumably he would be open to doing so again.
Secondly, it sounds as though Bologna will be lead by the money on offer here. Juve are by no means a poor club, but perhaps affording Calafiori’s current £30m reported price-tag [Forbes] might be a stretch for them. That wouldn’t be true for Liverpool.
We wouldn’t call this one dead just yet.