Planning is well underway for the summer transfer window and Jurgen Klopp is ready to rejuvenate his struggling Liverpool midfield after a season of disappointment.
The Reds look set to lose Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a matter of months once their contracts expire, while it remains to be seen whether James Milner will stay at the club. New blood is needed to fill gaps and bolster an ageing squad.
With this campaign's underwhelming performances likely leaving Liverpool without Champions League football for next term and the team needing more surgery than first expected, the Reds have cooled interest in Jude Bellingham. It is believed multiple signings are being sought instead of committing the majority of funds on one big name.
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Liverpool have been linked with a new midfielder virtually every day in the lead up to the transfer window, but here is a list of firmer targets and what has been said about their situation...
Mason Mount
The Chelsea star is set to enter the final year on his contract at Stamford Bridge - and has now emerged as a priority for Liverpool this summer. Club owner Todd Boehly has reportedly held 'positive' talks in a bid to stop Mount leaving Chelsea in a cut-price deal, but there appears to be no sign of contract resolution yet.
Frank Lampard spoke after news of Mount's season-ending surgery on Tuesday: "I don’t know the answer to that [if Mount has played his last Chelsea game], it’s a conversation between Mason and the club, so I don’t know. It’s not final at this point and we’ll have to see because those conversations are ongoing.
“But the bigger picture is something that's going to become clearer in the next weeks and months, and that will be the club and Mason together having conversations.”
The interim Chelsea boss added: "At this point, it's not my opinion that will be the resolution. It will be the opinion of the club and the opinion of Mason, so that's between them.
“I think my opinion's pretty clear, I don't need to spell it out what I think of Mason as a player, but it’s not my one to get into, that’s between them."
Ryan Gravenberch
The 20-year-old appears to have the profile of a Klopp signing - and Liverpool were also linked with him before he opted to join Bayern Munich last summer from Ajax.
It hasn't quite worked out for the midfielder in Bavaria and Gravenberch has spoken out about his frustrations over his lack of playing time this season.
The Dutchman told Voetbal International this week: "Training and playing at the top level for a year is beautiful and instructive. Although playing, it is mainly training. That has to change next season, then I really want to play weekly again. I haven't spoken to the club management yet, so just wait and see what happens. But it is clear that this role does not match my expectations."
Gravenberch has not reacted directly to potential interest from Liverpool, but German reporter Christian Falk recently claimed: "There was a meeting with Ryan Gravenberch’s management in Liverpool and in the Netherlands. So he is aware of Liverpool’s interest, the interest is concrete.
"I talked with Ryan after the match with Manchester City about his interest and he didn’t want to comment on it. But he had a big smile on his face, so it was clear that the Reds’ interest is an honour for him."
Alexis Mac Allister
Perhaps seen as alternative to Mount, many Liverpool supporters would welcome the signing of the Argentine World Cup winner after his fantastic performances for Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 24-year-old is currently linked with a move to the Reds and Manchester United with Brighton CEO Paul Barber refusing to rule out sanctioning a transfer for the Argentine.
“With Alexis, we sat down before the World Cup with his father, Carlos, and his agent," Barber told talkSPORT earlier this month. “That was about making sure Alexis was as settled as possible before the World Cup goal. And afterwards, we ensured he got back focused on the Premier League – to his credit he absolutely has done. Has performed very, very well.
“What the summer brings? We don’t know. What we do know is our players will come under a lot of scrutiny and interest. And we will manage that, as we always do, when and if it happens.”
Matheus Nunes
Another midfielder linked with a move to Anfield last summer was Portuguese international Nunes - before Wolverhampton Wanderers broke their transfer record to seal the high-profile signing.
It was later claimed Liverpool could possibly revisit that deal in the summer of 2023, but Wolves have now apparently removed a clause in Nunes' contract allowing the Reds to sign him for a reported £44m.
New suggestions are that Wolves would demand way over £50m for Nunes, which could prompt Liverpool to look elsewhere.
Moises Caicedo
Caicedo may be the midfielder Reds fans want above all, except Bellingham. The Brighton star has been exceptional this season and showed exactly why he is wanted by the Premier League's top clubs during the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
However, a move for Caicedo has complications and would be very costly for the Reds with Seagulls CEO Paul Barber standing firm over his man once Arsenal and Chelsea came calling in January.
"I’m sure I'm going to have many more opportunities," said Caicedo speaking to The Telegraph on his future after his January move was scuppered. "That’s why I continue to do things well. [But] it was tough. At the beginning when I didn’t end up going, lots of people would make fun of me on Instagram. People treated me badly. I didn’t check my social media because it would hurt me to see things.
"[Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi] approached me, we spoke and he told me to be calm. That it wouldn’t be the last club that would come in for me. I’d have more opportunities and he told me to keep on doing what I was doing and that I'll see in the future I wouldn't be sorry about staying.
"I just want to have a really good season with Brighton now, to finish off the season well and play really well and then we'll see what happens next season."
Conor Gallagher
Another Chelsea player on the list of targets is Gallagher - with the England international recently emerging as a surprise contender for a Liverpool move.
The engine room needs new additions and Gallagher is a player who Klopp apparently appreciates for his high energy style of play. He also ticks the box of boosting Liverpool's homegrown quota.
Klopp has previously spoken about Gallagher while he was on loan at Crystal Palace last season: “Gallagher, I’m not sure if we can still say he’s a ‘talent’ when he plays for [England] U21, but he’s a really, really good player."
Joao Palhinha
After Liverpool stepped away from the immediate race to sign Bellingham, Fulham star Palhinha has been named as a potential target.
Palhinha has made a league-high 114 tackles this term and it is clear to see why some of the Premier League's top clubs are tracking the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder.
The 27-year-old signed a five-year deal with the Cottagers last summer - with some media reports suggesting he won't be available for anything less than £60m.
Youri Tielemans
The Belgium international is out of contract in the summer at Leicester City - and his soon-to-be free agent status is something that could perhaps tempt Liverpool.
With no transfer fee, Premier League proven and Liverpool needing midfield reinforcements, the move arguably makes sense.
It remains to be seen how things pan out for Tielemans though - and whether the recruitment team at Anfield would consider him the best fit for Klopp's style.
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