Liverpool could repeat a similar transfer coup to the one that saw Fabinho join from Monaco amid links with Aurelien Tchouameni.
Fabinho arrived at Anfield from the French club for £39m in 2018 and has been a pivotal part of the success that Jurgen Klopp’s side has enjoyed since then.
Back in the present, it has been suggested in various reports that Liverpool are interested in Monaco’s young vice-captain Tchouameni - while Chelsea, the two Manchester clubs, City and United, along with Juventus and Real Madrid have also been mentioned as possible suitors.
The 21-year-old, who made his debut for France earlier this year, is regarded as one of the most promising midfielders in Europe.
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Signed from Bordeaux for £16m in January 2020, he has continued his startling progression at the Stade Louis II.
Playing as a holding midfielder, the 6ft 2in Tchouameni fended off stiff competition from fellow French starlet Eduardo Camavinga to win the 2020-21 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, as well as claiming a spot in the Team of the Season.
Though comparisons with current Reds midfielder Fabinho would be easy to make, given his position and club side, his former Bordeaux manager Gus Poyet has suggested that he could play a more advanced role in the future.
“He has incredible ability to recover balls — you don’t know how he does it,” Poyet told The Athletic.
“I like him a little bit more forward, arriving in the box, because I think he’s got goals in him too.
“I know he feels very confident in front of the defence. He feels that position belongs to him. But he can easily do a box-to-box role and score six or seven goals a season.”
Poyet also highlighted Tchouameni’s maturity and intelligence, with France coach Didier Deschamps saying that he had provided an 'example' to all other young players after his international debut.
In terms of statistics, the Monaco man currently averages a higher number of interceptions, 2.2 per game according to Whoscored, more than any player in the Liverpool squad.
For context, Trent Alexander-Arnold averages the highest for the Reds with 1.9, while James Milner and Fabinho top the charts across midfield with 1.6.
Tchouameni has also averaged more tackles than any of the Liverpool squad (2.5) and boasts a pass success rate of 87.4%, which is only marginally less than Fabinho’s 89% in the Premier League.
Monaco team-mate Cesc Fabregas has claimed that Tchouameni has the 'potential to become a complete midfielder', while France colleague Paul Pogba has described it as a 'pleasure to play next to him'.
With a burgeoning reputation, it has previously been suggested that the Frenchman could cost in the region of £42m.
Though if Liverpool are interested in Tchouameni they are likely to be in competition with several other elite clubs across Europe for his signature, as his stock continues to rise.
After establishing himself as part of the national team, Monaco manager Niko Kovac summarised his star player’s progress over the last 12 months.
"He takes on his responsibilities in the middle of the park, which is a strategic zone,” he told Ligue 1 last month.
“In that position you need to be disciplined and organise others around you.
“When I look at him compared to one year ago, he's no longer the same player. He's always trying to learn and understand. He absorbs all the information we give him."
