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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: PAUL ELLIS\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\nTwo failed attempts to sign a generational centre-back underline where Liverpool will soon once again be looking in the transfer marketLiverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: PAUL ELLIS\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Talk about contrasts. From the supposedly glacial movements of 12 months previous, the start of this summer transfer period has been one of much business from Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Jeremie Frimpong is already signed up for \u00a329million from Bayer Leverkusen<\/a>, talks continue with the Bundesliga side over a club record fee for Florian Wirtz,<\/a> Bournemouth are braced for a bid for \u00a345m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez while, heading out of Anfield<\/a>, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher have joined Real Madrid<\/a> and Brentford respectively.<\/a><\/p>\n But despite last year ultimately being able to recruit only Federico Chiesa<\/a> for the campaign while lining up Giorgi Mamardashvili<\/a> for this term, there was one other transfer dealing that pointed to what Liverpool supporters can expect in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Florian Wirtz team-mate makes Liverpool transfer claim and shares honest verdict on done deal<\/a>READ MORE: Liverpool midfielder wanted as several players targeted for summer transfer<\/a><\/p>\n And it isn’t the failed attempt to persuade Real Sociedad and Spain international midfielder Martin Zubimendi to part ways with the Ulia Mountain range.<\/p>\n Instead, the instructive interest came in Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, with Liverpool<\/a> having sensed an opportunity to sign a player they regard a generational talent.<\/p>\n Although the expectation was he would join Real Madrid, the Reds were willing to step in should the move falter, particularly with Lille asking for more than \u00a350m for a player who was in the last year of his contract.<\/p>\n Real, though, wouldn’t meet the asking price, with Lille’s steadfast refusal to budge also causing Liverpool to take a step back. Instead, Yoro accepted an offer from Manchester United, who eventually brokered a \u00a359m deal and could offer far greater immediate first-team openings.<\/a><\/p>\n Another young centre-back, Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, became available last month with Liverpool once again joining Real Madrid and this time Chelsea in the reckoning. It soon became apparent, though, that the boyhood Bernabeu fan only had eyes for the European Super League advocates.<\/p>\n Liverpool may have eventually missed out on both players. But that they were in the conversation was a reminder of both their stature in the market and ambition to challenge for the signatures of Europe’s best youngsters.<\/p>\n Indeed, it will have held them in good stead when they approached Wirtz and his representatives to begin attempting to persuade the 22-year-old to move to Anfield.<\/p>\n And that for consecutive summers Liverpool have been willing to spend big on the next generation of centre-backs underlines they are long planning for a significant change in the heart of their defence.<\/p>\n Virgil van Dijk confirmed his presence for another two years after agreeing a contract extension in April,<\/a> but will be almost 36 when his deal ends and not even the Liverpool skipper can continue at his current high level forever.<\/p>\n