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Having shown an interest in both Leny Yoro and Dean Huijsen across successive summer transfer windows, it's clear Liverpool are looking at their centre-back department with a wider lens.

With Virgil van Dijk signed on for the next two years, the Reds are targeting the next up-and-coming centre-back to lead their backline beyond what will be a 10-year stay of their current captain.

Yoro had also been wanted by Real Madrid before both clubs walked away due to the Frenchman's salary demands.



Manchester United, who could also offer a first-team position sooner and more regularly than their competitors, subsequently paid £52m to land the young Frenchman from Lille.

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Liverpool were also in the hunt for Huijsen at Bournemouth before Real Madrid triggered the £50m release clause to take him to the Spanish capital and complete a dream switch for the new La Roja international.

Two years ago, Levi Colwill was under consideration after a successful loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, although there was an acceptance that the now England international would be difficult to snatch away from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

So, given the target is a long-term centre-back, who else might be emerging as a potential target?

The ECHO's Reds writers have scoured the market for those who best fit the bill.

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Goncalo Inacio (23) has emerged as an important member of a Portugal side who have just won the Nations League, while his Sporting team-mate Ousmane Diomande (21) is another whose reputation has grown over the past couple of years in the Primeira Liga.

Meanwhile, Piero Hincapie - a vital part of the Bayer Leverkusen side who won the Bundesliga title 12 months ago before finishing as runners-up this time out - is still just 23.

However, I can't profess to have seen much of that trio, particularly the Sporting duo.

Hincapie was part of Bayer's back three in their 4-0 defeat at Anfield last season, but as someone who mostly watches the Premier League, this theoretical transfer search only takes us as far as the River Trent.

Murillo has become a major part of the Nottingham Forest team that ended up finishing seventh last time out and the Brazilian centre-back has become something of a cult hero at the City Ground.

The defender may have question marks about his ability to play in a side who are more front-footed than the counter-attack-heavy Forest but at the age of 22 there is plenty of room to improve and grow.

He is aggressive, strong and quick and, importantly, a left-sided defender, which Liverpool will be in need of when Van Dijk eventually calls time on his legendary career with the Reds.

And who wouldn't love to see Murillo's party trick of shots from 40 yards or more virtually every game at Anfield?

Liverpool possess four quality centre-backs at present but, for various reasons, they almost certainly aren't going to all be around at Anfield in a couple of years.

Some may not even last to the end of this summer's transfer window.

The Reds have been looking to future-proof the heart of their defence for several years, only to be thwarted by either an unwillingness to pay over the odds or players simply believing they have a better chance of success elsewhere.

It means the best young centre-backs are primarily already locked in at many of Liverpool's chief rivals and, as such, will be virtually impossible to prise away.

And while that also applies to the player Liverpool should now consider, they should have a go regardless.

Jarrad Branthwaite is the centre-back in question, who the Reds have scouted since his days on loan at PSV Eindhoven before impressively progressing in the Everton first team.

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Given the Blues have an interest in teenage Liverpool winger Ben Doak, it's clear the barriers that usually stop such cross-city transfers happening are being lowered by the Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit at present.

Liverpool, then, should take advantage.

And as Premier League champions, Liverpool's allure will never be greater than at present.


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