Duje Caleta-Car could be the ideal signing for Liverpool to make to solve their defensive crisis once and for all.
After agreeing a fee for Preston North End centre-back Ben Davies on Sunday, they are now working on a deal for another player to add to their ranks, with Duje Caleta-Car believed to be a strong contender.
Time and circumstances in France may be against the Reds, but there is interest in him.
Back in November, the Analysing Anfield podcast with Josh Williams and David Hughes picked out three names who would be 'typical Michael Edwards signings' to solve Liverpool's injury crisis - and Caleta-Car was option number one.
"He came through at Red Bull Salzburg which I always think is an appealing facet when you are considering any potential Liverpool buy," said Hughes at the time.
"He is six foot four, plays in a side that are dominant as Marseille came second last season, and there are not many examples of him being injured.
"If you look at the key numbers, he is ranking between 65 and 70 per cent in the key areas, like defensive duels and aerial duels.
"Ligue 1 is a really good breeding ground for young defenders - you have seen Gabriel for Arsenal who was at Lille. So far he looks a real success."
Listen to the full Analysing Anfield podcast on Duje Caleta-Car by clicking HERE
"Caleta-Car ticks all the boxes that you would want him to tick in terms of the controlled [style of play that Marseille have]," added Williams.
"He is a 24-year-old Croatian and there is a link in style of play between Salzburg and Liverpool, although his contract runs out in 2023, so he still has a way to go there.
"He is a keen long passer, so there is a bit of Virgil van Dijk in him there, but I noticed that a lot of his long passes are diagonal, as Van Dijk’s are.
"Where Van Dijk’s tend to be into where Mohamed Salah is, Caleta-Car’s tend to be on the other side where Sadio Mane is - a pass over the top but in almost a straight line."
That long-range passing ability is something that Liverpool have sorely missed with Van Dijk not in the team, with no other player among the Reds' ranks able to play it in the same way he does.
Caleta-Car played for Red Bull Salzburg between 2014 and 2018, where current Borussia Monchengladbach boss Marco Rose - who played for Jurgen Klopp at Mainz during his playing career - was his manager.
Now at Marseille in France, who signed him for £16.7m two and a half years ago, Caleta-Car turns 25 in September.
He reached Europa League semi-final with Red Bull Salzburg in 2018 as they beat Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad, eventually losing to Marseille in the semi-final.
