It now feels like Liverpool can properly kick off their summer after Arne Slot was unveiled on Wednesday.
The Reds have so far stayed unusually quiet during the early part of the transfer window.
Often so keen to get their business done early, Liverpool are yet to fully go in hard to make a signing for their new head coach.
But with Slot now down to work at the AXA Training Centre, targets should be well in the process of being formalised and approached.
The key area to improve in the Liverpool squad remains in the defence. And it sounds like the Reds are ready to ramp up their efforts to make a new signing.
Liverpool right in the mix to sign Leny Yoro
It would be a stretch for Liverpool to get by with what they have in the defence for next season.
Joel Matip has now left and although he only played 14 times in 2023/24, the 32-year-old was still crucial to Jurgen Klopp before getting injured in December.
Those 14 games will have to be found from somewhere. Given Ibrahima Konate’s injury woes, it might be an ask to expect him to make it up while Jarell Quansah could do without that extra pressure, too.
As a result, a new addition has to be the right answer for Slot. So far, the main target appears to have been Lille’s Leny Yoro.
READ MORE: What Liverpool insiders are saying about their chances of signing Leny Yoro
And speaking on his Playback channel on Wednesday, journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool are still in the mix to sign a player described as the ‘Kylian Mbappe of defence.’
“Months ago he decided to go to Real Madrid. Leny Yoro wants to play for Real Madrid,” Romano ominously explains. “They believe he’s going to be the next big thing, the ‘Kylian Mbappe of defenders’, let me say. They think he’s going to be special.
“Now it’s up to Real Madrid if they want to pay for a player who’s out of contract next year. If they will go strong club to club then they can sign him, they have the green light form Yoro,” adds the transfer expert.
“If Real Madrid decide against this, Liverpool are there for sure and PSG are there for sure. Don’t forget PSG, they have an excellent relationship with his agent. PSG and Liverpool are absolutely in the race for Leny Yoro.”
Is there an alternative to Leny Yoro?
It will be interesting to see when things will come to a head for Yoro. Although Real Madrid have been said to be the favourites for a while now, nothing has yet materialised.
As a result, Liverpool are continuing to hang in there and see if they can’t snag a player who has been described as a ‘generational talent.’
The issue for Madrid appears to be over price-tag. There have been suggestions that Yoro would cost around £50m. As the 18-year-old has just one year left on his contract, the European Championship don’t seem sure that’s value for money.
Should they turn their noses up, then Liverpool should have no qualms. If Yoro is as good as the hype suggests, then £50m may still end up being a bargain.
If, as seems more likely, Madrid do end up getting their man, then Liverpool shouldn’t be too down. Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna has emerged as an alternative and looks an equally exciting prospect.