No-one said that remodelling Liverpool's midfield this summer was going to be easy, but pretty much everyone said that it had to be done.
After the trials and tribulations of last season, Reds fans went into this summer knowing that new faces had to be added if lofty ambitions could still be successfully chased.
Liverpool clearly ran out of steam in 2022-23, and if a trek back up to the top of the game is going to be successful then it is going to be built on fresh legs in the middle of the park.
Alexis Mac Allister's arrival early in the summer went some way towards easing the concerns of a fanbase wanting new arrivals, but then worries did creep in as no more business was done for another three weeks.
Enter Dominik Szoboszlai as the summer's second new signing, with attention already turning to who the third midfield addition could be.
Both Mac Allister and Szoboszlai offer great attacking intent from the middle of the park, meaning that it is almost universally agreed that the next Liverpool midfield signing will be a more defensively minded player.
But who could that be? Here's what's going on with the names in the frame.
Manu Kone
One of the most frequent names linked with the Reds at the beginning of the summer was Borussia Moenchengladbach's Kone, with the Frenchman's combative nature and ability to win the ball ensuring that he ranked highly with Liverpool's scouts.
At 22, Kone is the right age profile for Liverpool and would fit in nicely as a potential backup and occasional partner for Fabinho, who did struggle for much of last season.
However, a knee injury in this summer's European Under-21 Championships suddenly saw much of the talk around him fade away, and with a mid-August date suggested for a return, Kone is finding himself being surpassed by other, currently available targets.
He's been unlucky, but then Liverpool have to be ruthless this summer.
Khephren Thuram
For a while you couldn't mention Kone without also mentioning Thuram, with the Nice midfielder seen as the slightly more attacking option of the two friends, and the one that is perhaps a little more well-rounded in his game.
Like Kone, Thuram represented France at this summer's European Under-21 Championships, and while he did manage to stay fit he was criticised by French media after Les Bleus 3-1 quarter-final defeat to Ukraine.
With his tournament over Liverpool are now free to pursue a move for the 22-year-old, but the question is, do they still want him?
Any move for Thuram is now likely to see them try to shift his position somewhat to turn him into more of a No.6 at times, and while progress on a deal has clearly been taken some way down the line, that isn't to say one will be completed.
It is a move to keep an eye on, but perhaps needs Nice to blink first in their valuation of the player or the structure of the deal they want.
Gabri Veiga
An attacking midfielder who starred for Celta Vigo last season, Veiga has always felt like somewhat of a bonus option for Liverpool, and a player they would monitor as the transfer window moved along.
The presence of a release clause at around £35m meant that he was always liable to be stolen away though, and while Chelsea have been monitoring the situation it is Paris Saint-Germain who have jumped to the front of the queue.
The Guardian report that the French champions are now primed to sign the young Spaniard, something Liverpool are likely to be fine with now they've got Szoboszlai on board.
Romeo Lavia
Always a name on the back burner during this summer, the impressive young Belgian has slowly come to the fore.
Lavia is just 19 and had a stellar debut season for Southampton following his move from Manchester City last summer. The trouble is though, when you star in the Premier League then you are likely to attract a hefty transfer fee.
Southampton's relegation will have created something of a need to sell though, and it is Liverpool who are making their way towards the head of a queue that also features Chelsea and Arsenal.
The Reds won't make the move unless the terms are favourable to them, and that could end up being determined on the terms for any Thuram deal.
They look to be the two major contenders for the next midfield move as two summer additions becomes three.
