The Reds did not expect to do loads of business this summer, with major surgery done to the midfield in particular only 12 months ago.
However, it had looked likely that one or two additions would be made to the Liverpool squad. As we slowly move towards August, there still remains a good possibility that that does happen.
But with concrete links few and far between, it is a bit of a mystery as to who Liverpool are actively targeting.
Leny Yoro was a genuine target, but the Frenchman ended up at Manchester United. And it now looks as though Yoro was not the only teenaged centre-back Liverpool were making eyes at.
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Liverpool miss out on Jorrel Hato
As Arne Slot looks for a new centre-back this summer, Yoro had seemed like the best possible option.
Very young, with high potential and a not astronomical price-tag, the 18-year-old could have been a brilliant addition for Slot.
Liverpool expected Yoro to go to Real Madrid, though, and were not in a position to match United’s eventual offer for the France U21 star. With that, it looked like the Reds’ top target for the defence had slipped through their fingers.
But according to journalist Ben Jacobs, Liverpool were possibly looking to sign Ajax’s young defender Jorrel Hato before even turning their attention to Yoro.
“Liverpool do want a centre-back in that position [left-sided] and it would be a surprise if the window shuts and they don’t get one,” Jacobs told Forest Fan TV after being asked if the Reds could move for Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.
“They would have loved to bring in Jorrel Hato from Ajax very early in the window and Arsenal were looking at him, too,” the journalist revealed.
“But Liverpool never advanced that, it was one of those links that never materialised because they felt like the player would stay at Ajax. Then Arsenal were more serious and again they felt exactly the same thing.”
On Murillo himself, Jacobs suggested that it was also not something he expected to see happen.
“Liverpool are still looking but I’m not aware at this point that they’ve advanced anything with Murillo specifically,” says the reporter. “It’s one of those links you hear often but actually when you check it out there’s not much substance.”
Jorrel Hato could have been Leny Yoro alternative
This is interesting from Jacobs because it does suggest that Liverpool were looking to be active towards the start of the window.
The line over recent weeks has been that Slot would like to look at his options in pre-season before deciding to make any moves.
But with Hato supposedly of interest right at the start of the summer, it would suggest that a decision has already actually been made.
In terms of Hato himself, he would have been a similar signing to Yoro in many ways. Like United’s new man, Hato is 18 and his total of 61 senior appearances is just one more than the former Lille youngster.
Liverpool were reportedly being quoted £86m for Hato back in March, but had he wanted to leave Ajax, surely it would have been a far sight cheaper. Nevertheless, this feels like one to keep an eye on long-term.
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