Liverpool are likely to be busy on the transfer front this summer as the club looks to give Arne Slot all the tools he needs to hit the ground running at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has laid some solid foundations at Liverpool, and FSG and the Reds board must now do all they can to build on those.
Defence is likely to be a priority area for Liverpool this summer, as Joel Matip is leaving the club when his contract expires in July.
Liverpool have been linked with plenty of top defenders over the past few weeks, such as Goncalo Inacio and Leny Yoro.
One centre-back the Reds are reportedly monitoring has been making waves at Euro 2024 and has now been compared to Franco Baresi.
READ MORE: Martin Keown suggests one Liverpool player won’t be happy with Gareth Southgate
Liverpool target Riccardo Calafiori likened to Franco Baresi
The player in question is Riccardo Calafiori, whose efforts have helped Italy qualify for the knockout round of the competition.
Fabrizio Romano recently said on his YouTube channel that Reds director Richard Hughes is a big fan of the Bologna ace amid “pushing” from “many clubs”.
Now, Bologna’s technical director Walter Sabatini has sung Calafiori’s praises in comparing him to one of the greatest defenders in history.
Gazzetta Dello Sport asked him why there appears to be a lack of top talents in Italy at this moment in time,
Sabatini said: “We qualified thanks to a beautiful ‘tear’ by Calafiori, who reminded me of Franco Baresi.
“Talent is scarce because in Italy football schools have cancelled street football, the place where you learned to stop the ball, to dribble and to play on the side.
“Instructors are coaches and impose tactics on nine-year-olds.”
Liverpool one of many suitors for Calafiori
Bologna are apparently resigned to losing their man, which has opened the door for Liverpool and other English clubs.
With a reported price tag of up to £43million, it’s not a bad starting point, but there’s a good chance a bidding war may break out amid links with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham.
Calafiori seems more than worth it though. Being compared to the legendary Franco Baresi is a real badge of honour, and he’s certainly showing what he’s capable of at Euro 2024.