Liverpool can formally ramp up their recruitment drive when the transfer window opens on Wednesday morning - although the Reds have already made their mark by signing Alexis Mac Allister.
Having earned rave reviews for his performances at Brighton - not to mention winning the World Cup this winter - Mac Allister was the obvious choice for Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment team after they shelved their initial plans to pursue Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham, due to the immense financial costs involved.
Signed for an undisclosed fee, Mac Allister has taken a chunk from the budget, but Liverpool have been left some important wiggle room as they chase further additions. France starlets Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram are firmly on radar, in addition to one or two unlikely (or impossible) targets.
Eye-catching reports surrounding Fede Valverde and Kylian Mbappe have surfaced in the past 24 hours. However, while they are top, top players, finances come into the reckoning, as with Bellingham.
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Having worn the number 10 shirt at Brighton throughout his time on the south coast, Mac Allister has chosen that jersey for his impending Anfield adventure. With several players leaving the club, though, there are further enticing options for whoever else follows him through the door this summer;
No.7 - An iconic number for Liverpool supporters dating right back to Sir Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan and other heroes from yesteryear. In more recent times, Steve McManaman, Harry Kewell and Luis Suarez have donned that particular jersey with departing veteran James Milner having worn it for the last eight seasons.
No.8 - Synonymous with Steven Gerrard in the last decade of his Anfield career. Naby Keita was the most recent incumbent, although it was always going to be a hugely difficult ask to replicate what Gerrard achieved as a No.8.
No.9 - Another squad decision that will not be taken lightly. Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres all went goals galore with the No.9 on their back and Roberto Firmino, one of four high-profile summer departures, will also take some emulating. Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez might have their eye on this one from in-house.
No.12 - Joe Gomez switched from No.12 to No.2 last season and it has not been reassigned.
No.15 - Milner, Keita and Firmino were not the only players to leave Anfield this summer as supporters also waved goodbye to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after six years at the club. He had worn the No.15 shirt since 2019.
No.16 - Vacant since Marko Grujic moved to FC Porto last summer. Didi Hamann is another previous owner.
Other unassigned squad numbers: 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.
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