It was conclusive proof that transfer silly season is well underway.
While Liverpool fans are used to seeing their name linked alongside dozens of players in the build up to a transfer window, a certain report from Brazil pricked the attention of football supporters across Merseyside.
Everton's star man, Richarlison, was reported to have had his agent meet with Jurgen Klopp - at the home of Reds manager, no less - to discuss what would be a jaw-dropping switch across Stanley Park.
UOL Esporte in Brazil claimed on Thursday that Renato Velasco had travelled to Klopp's house to discuss the possibility of his client becoming the first player since Abel Xavier in 2002 to cross the divide.
Richarlison has become a fully-fledged Brazil international since making his mega-money move from Watford last summer and the versatile attacker is understood to be more than settled at Goodison Park .
He's netted 13 goals in all competitions for the Blues and is very much part of Marco Silva's long-term plan across the other side of the park.
Senior Everton officials laughed off the prospect of such a move and the ECHO understands that Liverpool won't be making any such attempts to prize away one of their closest rivals' best players when the transfer window opens.
The short path from Goodison Park to Anfield is a well trodden one - despite the rivalry - with as many as 38 players turning out for both.
But while the likes of Peter Beardsley, Gary Ablett , Dave Hickson and Steve McMahon forged respected careers for both Merseyside giants, the name Nick Barmby can only be spoken in hushed tones around Goodison Park.
The rise and fall of Danny Ings' Liverpool career - a transfer that just wasn't meant to be
The former England international broke Everton hearts and became public enemy No.1 when he traded Goodison for Anfield in 2000 before going on to have a stellar two-year stay with Gerard Houllier's Reds.
Fondly remembered for his contribution in the 2001 treble-winning season for the Reds, Barmby is loathed by Evertonians. His 121-game career with the Blues is instantly dismissed for his perceived act of treason.
For Richarlison to make the same transfer - in the white-hot fury of the social-media age - would be far more explosive and inflammatory.
Would the Blues star really want to be remembered in such a way by the Everton faithful? It's highly unlikely.
There is also the fee itself to consider. The forward joined Everton from Watford last summer for a whopping £40m and is only likely to have seen that increase after an excellent debut campaign.
The 21-year-old still has four years on his long-term contract and is one of the Toffees most valuable assets. Liverpool would have to fork out considerably more to even get director of football Marcel Brands to blink.
And while Klopp might have to delve into the market for significant back-up to one of the most feared attacks in European football later this year, the Reds won't be shelling out the kind of outlay they did last summer.
It is understood the upcoming window won't be as high-profile as the one that saw them spend around £170million to land Naby Keita, Fabinho, Alisson and Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Reds will be in the market to fine tune ahead of the new season, but a relatively modest outlay is anticipated after paying out close to £250m since January 2018.
Richarlison to Liverpool? This is one transfer rumour you can chalk up as a non-starter.
