Liverpool expert David Lynch has poured cold water over suggestions that the Reds are advancing over three prospective transfer deals, although he can see the "sense" in Arne Slot's side being linked with a trio of up-and-coming names.
Amid speculation over the long-term future of Mohamed Salah, Liverpool have been tipped to move for Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi as a possible replacement, and they are also said to have taken an interest in Salah's fellow Egyptian Omar Marmoush, who plays up top for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Further back, Benfica's Alvaro Fernandez is another name that has been floated about during the international break, but speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch warned fans about getting over-excited about the links, which may very well be engineered by the players' agents.
However, the Reds aficionado can see where the apparent interest is stemming from, saying: "With the links that come out, there's always a reason behind it in terms of agents just trying to drive interest or whatever. That doesn't mean that they're all nonsense, by the way, I just mean in terms of, if it serves them to put the link out there, then that will tend to happen.
"It's a long way, obviously, from them firming up and becoming anything, but profile-wise, they all have a certain sense to them. But again, there's always a reason why names leak out early, and it's not always because Liverpool are very close to getting them - it's sometimes because it serves the player and his representatives to get it out there. So I wouldn't say any of those would be advanced, but they do certainly sort of make sense profile-wise."
In just a couple of months time, Salah will be able to open pre-contract discussions with foreign teams, as will Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom are also out of contract at the end of the season.
At this stage, Alexander-Arnold is purportedly the closest to leaving, as recent reports from Spain have alleged that Liverpool are resigned to losing the 26-year-old to Real Madrid either in January or on a free transfer next year.
Lynch has "no doubt" Liverpool want to improve certain position
The Reds have been credited with an interest in a couple of right-backs, namely Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen) and Juanlu Sanchez (Sevilla), but there have been few reports of a Van Dijk successor being especially targeted, while numerous young offensive players have been tipped to make the move to Anfield.
Asked specifically about if Liverpool being linked with more attackers than centre-backs or right-backs could mean anything regarding the futures of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, Lynch replied: "With attackers, there's going to be interest from a number of clubs and it's all about getting the best deal that you can from them. So I'm not completely pouring cold water on those because I actually think that's a trio of links that actually all make sense.
"If we did have a decision to make over Salah and he were to leave, you have to be ready to pounce and keeping an eye on these players. So those three links actually do make quite a lot of sense to me."
Meanwhile, Liverpool are said to be battling Real Madrid and Barcelona for Benfica left-back Fernandez, who was sold by Manchester United this summer, but the Red Devils reportedly negotiated a buyback clause into his contract that can be activated until 2026.
With Andy Robertson now in his 30s and Kostas Tsimikas's future not set in stone either, Lynch has "no doubt" that the Reds will be going for a new left-back soon, as well as questioning whether Marmoush could inherit Darwin Nunez's spot in the middle.
"I can see with Marmoush - he's more of a central striker, but I do think reinforcements in the attacking area are potential in the coming windows. What's happening with Darwin Nunez in that central area? Will Liverpool need a striker that suits them more age-wise, really suits the profile, scoring goals, just about heading to his peak years?" Lynch added.
"Left-back is another one where you think, if one of Kostas Tsimikas or Andy Robertson go, they will need someone there, and I think Tsimikas - there was a chance he could have left over last summer and it didn't obviously come to fruition in the end - but coming into next summer, is there going to be the chance he sees to maybe go on and play a bit more regularly elsewhere?
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"So I've no doubt that left-back is an area that they're looking at. And on the wings, always keeping an eye on young talents that you can sign in those positions. Maybe not necessarily Adeyemi, not saying it's definitely true to that link, but it makes sense as a young player who's excelling in a top five European league."
What do Liverpool need to get "absolutely right" in transfer market?
The all-conquering Liverpool team under Jurgen Klopp from 2019 to 2022 were memorably spearheaded by the famed trio of Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, the latter two of whom have been replaced by Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Nunez to mixed success.
Federico Chiesa arrived on an extreme cut-price deal from Juventus over the summer, but he has experienced a disrupted start to life at Anfield due to injuries, and Liverpool have been warned that they have no margin for error with their next attacking signing.
"It's very important that Liverpool's next forward signing is an absolute guaranteed hit because you look at the recent signings, since Salah and Mane arrived, they haven't signed a player who's had that level of impact," Lynch added.
"Luis Diaz is a very good player. Cody Gakpo is a very good player. Darwin Nunez can be a very good player when he puts it all together, but even the best of those signings hasn't quite reached that level.
"We've still yet to see Chiesa and what he can do and the hope will be maybe he can do that, but particularly if Salah leaves, the next forward signing has to be someone who comes in and has a Salah-like impact or Mane-like impact.
"That is something Liverpool absolutely need to get right because if you take that amount of goals and assists out of your team and you get another forward who's of a similar level to the ones that Liverpool have got, it starts to look a bit short on goals.
"I've no doubt they're scouring the forward market and they do need to get that one spot on because, whether Salah leaves or not, or it's Nunez who leaves next and they have to get a replacement there, it has to be someone who comes in and scores goals and plays at a world-class level almost from day one."
Liverpool return to Premier League action following the international break with a blockbuster clash against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, and Lynch can envisage one scenario where Slot's side "batter" their capital counterparts.
The Reds hold a one-point lead over Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, but they could drop below both sides into third if their rivals win before the 4.30pm Sunday kickoff.
Ben Knapton
