From Ryan Gravenberch to Perr Schuurs: Twelve players Liverpool should target before the summer transfer window closes

There was talk in Italy last week that Fiorentina had given Morocco international Sofyan Amrabat a deadline of Friday to secure a move away from the Artemio Franchi. However, coach Vincenzo Italiano has since admitted that Amrabat's situation could yet change before the close of the transfer window.

Manchester United are still struggling to raise the money required to sign the 27-year-old, who should be available for around £30 million ($38m), meaning Amrabat is there for the taking if Liverpool want a No.6 who proved he can excel at the very highest level during the 2022 World Cup.

Another midfielder being linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United, it would be a massive surprise if Ryan Gravenberch is still at the Allianz Arena when the window slams shut. Thomas Tuchel, just like Julian Nagelsmann before him, has been unable to find any room for the Dutchman in his starting line-up, not least because he believes Gravenberch is more of a No.8 than a No.6.

So, if Liverpool were to sign the 21-year-old, it would probably be to fill the 'multi-functional' midfield role they are supposedly now more interested in filling. Indeed, the classy and elegant Gravenberch would be more suited to playing alongside Endo than instead of him, a belated replacement for Gini Wijnaldum if you will.

Liverpool's interest in Andre is real but the Reds have, thus far at least, proven unwilling to pay the £35m ($44m) buy-out clause in his Fluminense contract. They have attempted to negotiate a smaller fee, but the Brazilian outfit have absolutely no intention of letting a player that is utterly fundamental to Fernando Diniz's team leave for a knockdown fee midway through the Serie A season.

Andre, then, is expected to stay at Fluminense until the end of the year, but it would not be a surprise to see him move to Europe - if not Anfield - in January, given this is an industrious playmaker that is expected to become a key part of Diniz's Brazil in the coming months.

Mali international Cheick Doucoure enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League - only Declan Rice made more interceptions in 2022-23 - and would certainly fulfil Liverpool's desire to have a strong, physical presence in the middle of the park.

The problem here, though, is both the timing and the transfer fee. Crystal Palace paid £20m for Doucoure just over a year ago and wouldn't even entertain the idea of letting him leave this close to deadline day for anything less than three times that figure.

Still, we know from Liverpool's bid for former Brighton star Moises Caicedo that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are willing to make serious money available to strengthen Klopp's squad...

A similar situation to that of Doucoure, in that it would take a colossal offer to persuade Fulham to part company with Joao Palinha at this point in time, given they would have so little time to find an adequate replacement for one of their best players.

Indeed, Palhinha underlined his value to Marco Silva's side with an excellent performance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Arsenal. One imagines he'd perform even more impressively alongside even better players at Anfield but, again, are Liverpool willing to spend the kind of money required to make this move happen?

Another tricky one from a financial perspective. Aston Villa have absolutely no need to sell a player that only signed a new, long-term contract last October following interest from Arsenal. He's also gone from strength to strength under Unai Emery, even developing something of an eye for goal, and is a key part of an exciting side that could make a surprise push for a top-four finish this season. Villa would, thus, be loath to lose Luiz at this point of the summer - but it's been widely reported that the Brazil international has plenty of admirers at Anfield. The 25-year-old certainly wouldn't represent a direct replacement for compatriot Fabinho but he would add dynamism to the midfield.

If Liverpool really want to "go for it" this week, if they really want to make a splash in the transfer market by bringing in an all-action midfielder who can do it all, then Nicolo Barella is the man they want. The Italy international is a fantastic footballer blessed with a tremendous engine, making him one of the very best No.8s in world football - if not the best.

The problem is that he would command a far bigger fee than anyone else on this list - Caicedo money, effectively - but while Inter consider Barella a future club captain, their ongoing financial problems mean a surprise sale is not out of the question.

If West Ham were to belatedly land Harry Maguire, might they be willing to let Nayef Aguerd leave to cover the cost of the Manchester United centre-back? It's certainly possible. However, there is no guarantee that Liverpool would be willing to pay more than the £30m ($38m) that the Hammers splashed out on the Morocco international last summer.

Granted, he was impressive during the 2022 World Cup, but Aguerd's tournament was interrupted by injury - just like his first season in the Premier League. Secondly, in getting himself sent off against Chelsea last week with a stupid challenge, he demonstrated the kind of bone-headed decision-making that Liverpool are presently trying to avoid.

England international Marc Guehi may be right-footed, but he can, just like Van Dijk, play on the left-hand side. He's also a proven performer at Premier League level.

However, Crystal Palace would be just as reluctant to let go of Guehi as Doucoure, meaning an enormous bid would also be needed here to even get the Londoners thinking about letting the 23-year-old leave Selhurst Park with the season already under way.

Goncalo Inacio is a left-footed centre-back that appears to tick all of the boxes in terms of Liverpool's preferred player profile: he's young (22), versatile (Inacio can also play right-back) and has a huge margin for growth.

However, Liverpool didn't make a move for the promising Portugal international when the buy-out clause in his Sporting CP contract was believed to be only €45m - so it seems unlikely that they'll make a move now that it's risen to €60m (£51m/$65m). Indeed, Inacio now seems more likely to end up at Newcastle if it turns out that Sven Botman's injury is worse than first feared.

Widely regarded as one of the most intriguing young centre-backs in Europe, Ecuador international Piero Hincapie has even been linked with Real Madrid over the course of the summer. Tottenham were also said to be interested before snapping up Micky van de Ven.

The 21-year-old left-footer would certainly represent an excellent addition for Liverpool, but the word is that Bayer Leverkusen, who are constructing a very strong side under former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso, have absolutely no intention of selling Hincapie this summer.

One of Torino's best players last season, former Ajax centre-back Perr Schuurs has been the subject of incessant transfer talk in recent weeks, with Granata coach Ivan Juric admitting on Friday that Schuurs had been unsettled by rumours of a move to Anfield.

The 23-year-old may be right-footed but he's also so comfortable in possession that he can also play in midfield.

Just like his Inter team-mate Barella, Alessandro Bastoni represents something of a dream signing for Liverpool. The Italy international is fast (he used to play as a full-back), strong, excellent in the air and has a wand of a left foot.

However, just like Barella, he would not come cheap. But if Liverpool are looking for a long-term successor for Van Dijk, there would be no better buy than Bastoni.