The Reds already have an extraordinary pack of midfielders in their squad, but there will be opportunities in the future for the club to build on the platform to make more high-value moves.

Despite winning the Premier League last season, the team needed tearing up and a lot of players came in during the summer. Ideally, all of the signings that were made have successfully been able to fill the holes left behind, but the Anfield project will still be keeping an eye out for opportunities.

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On such rumoured move could be for Adam Wharton, who has been shining at Crystal Palace and even though he’s only 21 years old, a price tag for him could touch £100m if negotiations spiral. He would help to bolster the Reds’ engine room, playing a few different positions in Arne Slot’s system.

But there are other players like the Englishman that are of a similar calibre and it appears as though Liverpool are doing their due-diligence on each of them, with Premier League experience the key.

According to Team Talk, it’s possible that Liverpool could get in their historic rivals’ way in signing 21-year-old Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in the summer. The Cameroon international receive a lot of speculation in the last transfer window, but the Seagulls were successfully able to reject any bids.

This was primarily as a result of the £100m price tag that has been placed on the young player’s head and given he’s contracted until 2028, there was no reason for him to be let go quite yet.

However, you feel as though next summer is an entirely different prospect since he’ll have just two years left on his deal then and Brighton will want to maximise his value in any potential transfer move.

The report claims that Liverpool have joined the table of interested suitors and while Ruben Amorim has the player as his ‘dream target’, that probability could quickly turn into a nightmare for the coach.

Insider Dean Jones gave an update in Team Talk’s report which said: “Manchester United were the first club to make a move for Baleba in the summer and they still see him as a key target for their long-term rebuild under Amorim. There was intent behind that approach, wanting to show the player and club how serious they are.

“But the concern is that Liverpool’s admiration could turn into something more concrete. They’ve already shown this year [that] they’re not afraid to splash out big money on the right player, and if they decided to push for Baleba, United would suddenly find themselves in an unwanted situation.

“No one wants to go head to head with Liverpool, on or off the pitch.”

As such, the gulf between the two clubs might never have been greater and Richard Hughes could rub salt in the wounds of the Reds’ fiercest rivals, outside of Everton across the way in the city.

Baleba is a highly exciting prospect and he was given over 3000 minutes last season across all competitions. The main point of order is likely to be if he can deliver a similar effort this season, showcasing that he’s a midfielder that can be relied upon and with the African Cup of Nations also taking place this season, there are a lot of matches that he has to be available for.

The young midfielder would suit Liverpool’s system, so a move is perhaps on the cards, if the club feels his value is proportional to the asking price Brighton want. Furthermore, spending £100m on a player so soon after last summer’s exploits is unlikely. But the chance to usurp Manchester United is something that Liverpool will revel in. Their project under Amorim is already starting to fall apart.