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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

Jeremie Frimpong is already signed up for £29million from Bayer Leverkusen, talks continue with the Bundesliga side over a club record fee for Florian Wirtz, Bournemouth are braced for a bid for £45m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez while, heading out of Anfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher have joined Real Madrid and Brentford respectively.

But despite last year ultimately being able to recruit only Federico Chiesa for the campaign while lining up Giorgi Mamardashvili for this term, there was one other transfer dealing that pointed to what Liverpool supporters can expect in the not-too-distant future.

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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.

Instead, the instructive interest came in Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, with Liverpool having sensed an opportunity to sign a player they regard a generational talent.

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 £50m for a player who was in the last year of his contract.

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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 £59m deal and could offer far greater immediate first-team openings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Virgil van Dijk confirmed his presence for another two years after agreeing a contract extension in April, but will be almost 36 when his deal ends and not even the Liverpool skipper can continue at his current high level forever.

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And there is less short-term clarity over the remainder of the backline.

Ibrahima Konate is approaching the last 12 months of his contract and, although talks between his agent and Liverpool over a new deal progressed in late May, there remains the very real prospect he could leave for nothing next summer.

Joe Gomez would have joined Newcastle United last summer in a deal that was due to see Anthony Gordon move in the opposite direction until the Magpies pulled the plug, while Jarell Quansah has been linked with interest from potential suitors.

Whether Liverpool ramp up efforts to future-proof their centre-back options this summer is likely to depend on what happens to that trio over the coming months.
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