Liverpool’s transfer plans remain a little bit of a mystery as the Premier League season speeds into view.
By this time of the summer, the Reds have often got the bulk of their business out of the way.
Take last year for example. Alexis Mac Allister was already almost a month into his Liverpool career, while Dominik Szoboszlai signed on July 2nd.
12 months on and the picture couldn’t be more different. Despite the fact that Arne Slot will take charge of pre-season over the next handful of days, the Liverpool squad is yet to be added to.
Thankfully though, it’s looking like there may finally be some shoots of real transfer activity starting to sprout through.
Liverpool ‘definitely’ like Rayan Ait Nouri
Although there is yet to be any concrete news in the transfer window since the end of the season, there have still been plenty of rumours to get stuck into.
Most of the links have come for a new defender. Leny Yoro was heavily suggested as a top target, but things have since gone a little quiet on the 18-year-old.
Meanwhile, the latest quotes from Bologna director Giovanni Satori suggest that Riccardo Calafiori could be on his way to the Premier League.
Amidst all of that and much, much more, there have been some claims that Liverpool are back in for Wolves left-back Rayan Ait Nouri.
And speaking to Anfield Index, journalist David Lynch says there is certainly ‘legs’ to the story. However, it Liverpool may need to move Kostas Tsimikas on before any approaches are made.
READ MORE: Why Rayan Ait Nouri could be Michael Edwards’ perfect first signing back at Liverpool
“I think there’s definitely legs in this one,” says Lynch when presented with rumours about Ait Nouri. “He’s been linked so frequently recently and Liverpool have a great relationship with his agency. So I think there’s definitely something in that.
“Just the issue is down that left-hand side you’ve already got two left-backs there,” adds the journalist. “So, you probably need to do something about that. I’ve said many times I think Kostas is a bit of a candidate for moving on this summer but something has to give on that. You can’t just keep adding left-backs and hope it works itself out, Liverpool never operate like that.
“So, perhaps have you have to wait until Tsimikas gets something but I do think there’s real legs in that.
“Profile wise, agency wise, the quality of his play, loads makes sense about this one but I just think there probably need to be some movement outwards on that left-hand side and that will obviously be Tsimikas going.”
Liverpool waiting on Kostas Tsimikas sale
Lynch goes on to say that Ait Nouri’s arrival would potentially be seen not as a back-up left-back, but as someone who could take over from Andy Robertson in the long-term.
In our opinion, Liverpool might perhaps be better off saving their money and promoting Owen Beck from the academy instead.
Though he’s now the wrong side of 30, Robertson still looks like he can be Slot’s starting left-back for the time being.
Ait Nouri reportedly has a release clause of around £38m [La Gazette du Fennec] and that seems like a steep price to pay for someone who would still be going in as a second choice, at least initially.
Nevertheless, as Lynch says, there does appear to be genuine interest from Liverpool. Robertson will need replacing eventually and if Ait Nouri is available this summer then perhaps now is the time to start making those steps.
It would be a shame to lose Tsimikas, but having fallen down the pecking order it feels like time for the Greek to move on. That would free up space for Liverpool’s next evolution to take shape.