Liverpool will invest heavily in their defence next summer due to departures and the need to bring in younger players to replace long-serving stalwarts.
The Reds are looking to bring in centre-backs regardless of Virgil van Dijk’s contract situation and the club are looking at several central defenders in the Premier League and Europe.
A right-back will be on the top of their agenda if Trent Alexander-Arnold eventually decides against signing a new deal and leaving on a free transfer in the summer.
There is also a growing consensus within their recruitment team that the club will need a new left-back who will go on to succeed Andy Robertson as their long-term full-back.
Liverpool have been looking at several players and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri are two of the players the club are tracking.
Kerkez is likely to be an expensive option as he has several years left on his contract and a few other teams are expected to be in the race to sign him.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is the cheaper option for the Merseyside giants
Ait-Nouri is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League and is also on the wanted list of Manchester United.
Liverpool have their eyes on him and a move for him is unlikely to blow a massive hole in their transfer budget next summer.
According to Football Insider, Wolves are open to the prospect of selling the defender for a cut-price fee at the end of the season.
He will be entering the final year of his contract at Wolves next summer and the club want to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2026.
Can you name the club Liverpool signed these players from?
Ait-Nouri won’t be signing a new contract with Wolves and is aware that some of the biggest clubs in England are interested in him.
This opens up the door for Liverpool to move for him and bring in a long-term replacement for Robertson without having to spend a king’s ransom.
However, they will have to be vigilant about interest from other clubs as left-back will be a priority for Manchester United in the summer as well.
A few other clubs will get into the mix as well if Ait-Nouri becomes available in the market in the coming months.
