The transfer rumour mill is whirring into life again and its latest offering includes a couple of potentially huge deals in relation to Liverpool.
Given that we're approaching the end of the final international break of the campaign, the business end of the season will soon be upon us and with that of course comes the time for dishing out the trophies.
The Reds of course could still land a couple of the biggest of the lot for themselves in the silverware stakes and in doing have the potential to shape how tales like the following might pan out.
Who?
You know the bloke who has stepped into breach to fill the scoring void and ensure Liverpool's hopes of glory both home and abroad remain intact since Mohamed Salah hit an alarming dry patch in front of goal of late.
Where?
Marca. Mane – who scored against Real Madrid in last season's Champions League final in Kiev –
is believed to have been on the Spanish giants' radar for several months now.
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However, ever since Zinedine Zidane made a dramatic return to the Bernabeu hot seat earlier this month, speculation has been building that the French football legend wants the Reds' Senegalese ace to be one of his high-profile targets this summer to reinvigorate an under-performing side.
Today, Mane and Zidane have made front page news in Spain with Marca declaring: “Zidane asks for Mane.”
What?
Liverpool remain confident of holding on to Mane despite what could become an intense pursuit from Madrid this summer.
The player himself – who has netted 11 goals in his last 11 outings – is believed to be settled at Anfield, the team are challenging for major titles both at home and in the Champions League (which is more than can be said of Real this season) and while the prospect of becoming a 'Galactico' is always tempting for any player, Mane only signed a new lucrative long-term contract tying him down to the Reds until 2023 earlier this season.
Who?
Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk's centre-back partner with the Dutch national team who continues to enjoy a mutual 'love in' with his more senior defensive colleague from Anfield.
This month alone, the Ajax teenager declared that Liverpool are “a good club” and that a potential move to the Reds “could happen” while Van Dijk responded last week by stating that De Ligt is “an excellent defender” and he's “really happy to play besides him.”
Where?
Reports in Spain – again – reckon that any Liverpool hopes of landing the wonderkid – who is being tracked by several of Europe's biggest clubs – could be scuppered.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is in Amsterdam and according to radio station Onda Cero he will use his time there to begin discussions to try and land De Ligt in an attempt to complete a deal before the rest of the continent's heavyweights can wade in.
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Mundo Deportivo also report that the player himself will meet with Edwin van der Sar (Ajax chief executive), Marc Overmars (Ajax director of football) and a delegation from the Camp Nou on Monday and Tuesday of this week with a view to strike an agreement ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals.
What?
Di Ligt is undoubtedly one of the global game's hottest prospects and every elite side out there would surely be interested in his services.
Ajax of course enjoy a stellar reputation for producing their own world class performers in house but even among the Amsterdam conveyor belt of talent, he stands out.
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Back in May 2017 he became the youngest player ever in a European final, turning out against Manchester United in the Europa League final aged just 17 years and 285 days.
Then in March 2018, he replaced the injured Joel Veltman to become Ajax's youngest ever captain while still 18 and in February 2019 he became the youngest Ajax player to reach 100 senior appearances for the club, helping them to a 3-0 victory over Feyenoord in the Dutch Cup.
If De Ligt did come to the Reds he'd not only have Van Dijk alongside him but other compatriots Gini Wijnaldum and Ki-Jana Hoever – who was plucked from Ajax at an even younger age – plus highly-rated coach Pep Lijnders.
The player himself seems to operate well alongside Van Dijk and there is a significant pedigree of players coming from the Eredivisie to Anfield and excelling, notably fans' favourite Dirk Kuyt and iconic Finnish centre-back Sami Hyypiä who was one of the club's all-time greatest bargain buys.
