Liverpool have already dipped into the transfer market this summer and there remains intense speculation on who might join Alexis Mac Allister through the door at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment team are working around the clock to strengthen - particularly in the engine room - after losing James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in that position. However, there are other plans being put in place with a left-sided central defender on the radar.
It means newly-appointed sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has been getting straight down to business, following his handover from Julian Ward - after Mac Allister was signed - while there are enough other bits on his to-do list as the countdown to the next Premier League season continues.
Ian Doyle - chief Liverpool writer at the ECHO - answered your burning questions on the Reds during his latest Q&A session on Monday afternoon. Here are some of the main talking points;
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Joe 88: Liverpool moved quickly to get Mac Allister across the line. How soon do you think we could see another signing arriving at Anfield?
Ian: I'd be surprised if there isn't at least one new face before the start of pre-season in four weeks. Ideally the Reds will have two, but the transfer window is long and there are a lot of moving parts, particularly with this realistically being a post-World Cup window. The main thing is Liverpool have got their main target in early.
Daniel4774: Is there a real chance Levi Colwill could be joining or is it more of an appreciation of his talents without any real interest?
Ian: They like him but, it's one thing recognising a talent and quite another being able to get him out of a club and into Liverpool. That said, Chelsea need to ship out a lot of players. Any sale will depend on what Mauricio Pochettino wants and, clearly, he hasn't made his intentions known yet given he's only just got in the job.
tomlfc50: Is there any truth in trying to sign [Federico] Chiesa?
Ian: Not heard anything along those lines.
Banksta: How do you think LFC will handle the need for the incoming of at least one homegrown player? I honestly don't think [James] Ward-Prowse is a good idea. It wouldn't go down well with the fans.
Ian: I don't think what supporters think is a genuine consideration for most transfers - although there are always exceptions. Ward-Prowse isn't someone we've heard mentioned. A few years younger and he may have been.
Telboy52: Plenty of other young players have been mentioned in dispatches, but none of them are could be classed as a defensive midfielder. Do you know whether a player to address this problem is on the club's agenda?
Ian: Both [Manu] Kone and in particular [Khephren] Thuram have defensive midfield qualities and they have played there on multiple occasions this season. It will definitely come into Liverpool's thinking when they determine who they next want to sign in midfield this summer.
Saggy100: We see more concrete talk from journalists regarding three midfielders and one (ideally left-footed) centre-back coming in. Except from Colwill, are there any other names you're hearing?
Ian: No real names as of yet, partly due to the midfield being the priority. I'd imagine they don't want to commit a lot of money to a centre-back just yet if it might leave them short in chasing another midfielder. it could be a case of getting the second midfielder in, then assessing the options. That would make logical sense - but hey, it's transfer window time, a period when logic has only a trifling influence...
nathanquinn23: I have seen Liverpool are looking for a left-footed centre-back...
Ian: Yes, I wrote on Sunday about Liverpool looking at a centre-back. Klopp admitted this last month. It's not the priority but if they can get one done, they will want to - but it will be someone very much towards the start of their career. It would be a major surprise if it was a big spend on a ready-made centre-back, given Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are likely to be first-choice again at the start of next season.
iceland: Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella have we any interest .International refinanced £415m so possible opportunity for LFC to deal. I understand Klopp is a longstanding admirer
Ian: As you say, Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer. But that's as far as it has gone so far. We haven't heard Barella being mentioned for quite some time now regards a possible signing.
Modulox: Can we sign three overseas players while also meeting the homegrown quota (eight homegrown in maximum squad of 25 players), or do you see us selling an existing overseas player this summer to make room?
Ian: I don't think the homegrown quota regulations will dictate which players Liverpool chase this summer. They'll find a way of making things work. The window doesn't open for another few days officially anyway...
Ramon23: Any news on what they are going to do with Luke Chambers. Only a young lad but always impresses when I watch him . Maybe a loan again or does he play under-21s and get on the bench a little more in cup games?
Ian: Interesting one, really. I do know Liverpool were impressed with how Chambers did at Kilmarnock in the second half of this season, and he's still only 18. Chambers was given a go in pre-season last summer and I reckon that might happen again before any decision is made. The Europa League does offer the promise of more game time, but if he could get say a move to a Championship club that might be better for him.
mp999: I am really curious to know who would get into the starting XI midfield-wise. Mac Allister already signed, we have Curtis [Jones], Harvey [Elliott], [Jordan] Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho too and let's not forget Stefan Bajcetic. That's TOO much and most of them are too good to be bench-warmers. So do you think personally more realistic to sign one or two new midfielders?
Ian: Henderson is likely to be a more irregular starter next season, Thiago likewise, and Bajcetic is still very young and will be similar. Mac Allister you'd imagine is going to feature regularly, and Fabinho is the only experienced, dedicated defensive midfielder. As always with Klopp, the midfield will be horses for courses. I wouldn't be surprised if the midfield that ends the season is rather different to the one that starts it - much like this season in fact.
Ian11: Are Kone and Thuram serious targets?
Ian: Well, they're on the list of players they are looking at. Depends how you define serious, really. At some point Liverpool will have to decide just how hard they want to go for either or both of these players. Evidently we haven't quite reached that point yet.
sixtyfivehomes: My concern is it will be grave mistake to not have a back-up for [Mohamed] Salah taking into consideration the games he will missed representing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations. So far he hasn't had a huge injury lay-off, but if it happened next season, I think we might be very affected. [Diogo] Jota, [Darwin] Nunez, [Cody] Gakpo, [Luis] Diaz don't have the same impact when played on the right. Do you think this could be a position Liverpool is looking to strengthen this summer?
Ian: Opportunist deals aside, there's no suggestion Liverpool are looking to sign another forward. Salah won't miss too many games due to being at the AFCON, and Elliott is another option on the right. The Reds could just change formation as well if they wanted. There's flexibility now.
redredredred: Before the start of this season, you were the only one of the Blood Red podcast who thought Liverpool would have a transition season, while the rest of the pod predicted we'd win the Premier League. Well done on being right. But my question is: with far more incoming transfers expected this summer than last, do you think we're looking at another transition season in 23/24 or do you think we'll be more competitive than last?
Ian: I didn't expect them to finish fifth, let's make that clear! I think the transitional season has in some ways happened - the realisation the old team is over and this is now becoming a new one. That mental shift is sometimes the most difficult, although ultimately it is performance that counts. There will absolutely be a transition in midfield in the coming season, but I think the main hurdle has been overcome - Liverpool now have a new aim looking forward rather than worrying about maintaining the past. The new-look attack can settle and the defence appears to be sorting itself out.
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