Liverpool had a quiet summer during the most recent transfer window, with only Ibrahima Konate added to Jurgen Klopp's squad after the Frenchman signed from RB Leipzig for around £35m.
Reports from inside Anfield suggested that the club viewed the summer of 2022 as a better opportunity to sanction a more thorough rebuild.
Liverpool's squad remains elite, but concerns have gradually emerged regarding the average age of the players who are typically selected to represent the famous red jersey.
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Players who are at least 29 years-old include Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner to name but a few.
Those names are still contributing on the pitch but ahead of next summer, it is reasonable to suggest that Liverpool will be looking to add younger talents.
So could Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz be on the shortlist?
Christian Falk, head of football for German newspaper Bild, recently stated that Liverpool are interested in Wirtz alongside Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
It has also been claimed elsewhere in Germany that Wirtz "could have gone to Liverpool, to Bayern or to Dortmund" at the point he joined Leverkusen from the youth team of FC Koln.
Still just 18-years-old, he has already developed into an established performer for Leverkusen, starting 28 Bundesliga matches since the beginning of last season.
Wirtz was given his debut aged 16, with his impressive physical traits combining with his versatility to present him with playing opportunities early in his career.
Based on his time on the pitch as a teenager, he has a very flexible skill set; he's operated as a forward, no.10 and central midfielder for Leverkusen.
The young German is so youthful and adaptable that his future best position is open to interpretation, and that would certainly benefit his prospects at Liverpool.
Klopp has a reputation for preferring to manage a small squad, and versatile players allow that to happen because of their ability to cover across multiple positions.
Wirtz would add a valuable option for the Reds boss in midfield and no.10 areas, and he's naturally offensive with his actions which suits Liverpool's assertive playing style.
He has 10 goals and 10 assists in his Bundesliga career so far, and he shows up well across a number of more specific areas.
Wirtz ranked ninth in the division for completed dribbles last season, for example, as well as 18th for progressive passes received, which perhaps offers an insight into his movement and ability to assume possession in tight spaces.
An imminent move for the German wonderkid could be difficult to navigate due to the interest in him from various other European giants, with Wirtz reportedly happy to stay at Leverkusen in the short term.
But he looks set to deliver at the top for the next decade - and Liverpool will be watching.
