In the summer of 2020, Liverpool wanted to find a way of strengthening their midfield department. After picking up their first Premier League title in 30 years, Jurgen Klopp wanted a subtle addition to make his champions even better, which was easier said than done.
Few players seemed capable of improving the Reds, who had accumulated a total of 99 points in their the previous season. In order to deliver the evolution that was desired, Liverpool had to go against their own transfer policy.
Since Klopp's arrival on Merseyside, players of a specific criteria have regularly been brought to Anfield. Every new signing tends to be aged 26 or under, and those players usually originate from clubs that are beneath Liverpool in the footballing food chain.
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The Reds have demonstrated a tendency to target unpolished gems before allowing them to reach an elite standard on Merseyside, with the trio who formed Klopp's initial front line signed from Hoffenheim, Southampton and AS Roma respectively.
Liverpool seemed to sidestep their established criteria in 2020 by investing in the services of Thiago Alcantara, who had just won the Champions League with Bayern Munich at the age of 29.
The champions of Germany had one of the best midfielders in the world on their books, but Klopp managed to convince him to embrace a fresh challenge as a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum.
Since, Thiago has helped Liverpool evolve in the middle of the park by offering what no other player does. Although the Reds made the rare decision to bypass their transfer policy at the time, the club almost certainly has no regrets.
With Thiago's offbeat transfer in mind, a new recruitment problem has emerged for the club to solve. Klopp wants his team to improve again next year, but they now appear set to lose Sadio Mane.
After spending his prime years of performance at Anfield, the Senegalese international is eager for a new challenge.
As a result of the undeniable impact of Mane when he's on the pitch, Liverpool might explore the possibility of replacing him with a fellow elite performer, rather than an unpolished gem which would fit with the theme of their usual scouting policy.
Curious links have emerged linking the club with Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe in recent weeks and their names could offer an insight into what Liverpool want from their Mane replacement.
Rather than being a player from Hoffenheim, Southampton or Roma, it is reasonable to suggest Mane's heir will be a fellow star who is already accustomed to competing for the grandest prizes.
With Luis Diaz and Fabio Carvalho added to Liverpool's attack ahead of next season, the average age of the squad has already dropped, meaning their next offensive capture could be a few years older than normal, like Thiago was when he travelled to Merseyside as a 29 year-old in 2020.
A shift in policy once more would open up the possibilities of Liverpool chasing the likes of Serge Gnabry - who has one year left on his contract in Munich and doesn't seem likely to extend his deal based on reports - or Bukayo Saka, who has two years remaining on his Arsenal contract.
Even Raheem Sterling and Timo Werner could likely have been deemed as suitable options if they weren't contracted to Premier League title rivals, rendering moves for them as improbable.
Regardless of who Liverpool end up signing, the signs suggest they are going to be shopping around Europe's very best as they look to replace one of their headline acts.
