Liverpool have shelved plans to target Borussia Dortmund and England sensation Jude Bellingham when the market reopens as they instead plot a wider summer recruitment drive.
Speculation over the generational talent and his future with the Bundesliga side has been as talked about as proposals to revamp the Anfield engine room. However, after being tipped to head up the (dis) orderly queue for Bellingham's signature, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will now look elsewhere.
The Liverpool ECHO understands the Premier League giants have decided they would be better served spreading cash on several signings rather than committing the majority of the budget to one big-money arrival. As such, interest in Bellingham, 19, has markedly cooled.
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So what next for Klopp and the recruitment team? Well, despite them side-stepping Bellingham - during the forthcoming summer transfer window at least - midfield will still be the main area of focus and several high-profile names have been linked in that regard ahead of proposed moves.
From the Premier League alone, you can jot down Mason Mount (Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton) as possible targets with Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella among the alternatives plying his trade elsewhere in Europe.
As things stand, Tielemans is set to become a free agent, but might lack the intensity for a Klopp side, while Mount and Neves are thought to be at contract stalemate with their current employers as each only have 14 months left to run on their deals. Caicedo, Mac Allister and Barella would each cost a pretty penny - although not in the same bracket as Bellingham, who is said to be valued by Dortmund in the £130m bracket.
While that might be a price worth paying, by spreading out the budget Liverpool would be able to sign two or three high-quality midfielders who would each bring something different to the squad. Beyond that, Klopp and the recruitment team could also put some money toward another versatile central defender.
Similarly to further forward, any signings there could be dependant on outgoings. Meanwhile, when it comes to this hybrid new formation unleashed by Klopp in recent matches, there is scope for Trent Alexander-Arnold to move into the engine room permanently.
In that scenario, any defensive recruits would have to be comfortable in a three or four, so perhaps someone like Ajax prospect Jurrien Timber could be tracked.
Here's how Liverpool could line up next season if they sign Timber, Caicedo, Barella and Mount during the summer window.
Liverpool FC (3-2-2-3 formation): Alisson; Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Alexander-Arnold, Caicedo; Barella, Mount; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
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