Exclusive: Liverpool looking to sign £9.5m Wolves star after spending 12 months tracking him

Today at 10:45 AM

• EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey

Liverpool could soon sign a familiar face in the Premier League.

Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at Liverpool, and Richard Hughes, Director of Football at Anfield, have plenty of work to do as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all see their contracts expire at the end of the season.

All three have played a key role this season under Arne Slot as the Reds sit second in the Premier League.

However – in the meantime – TBR Football have been informed that those involved in recruitment at Liverpool are making plans to bolster the left side of defence, with Wolves or Bournemouth at risk of losing a star man.

Liverpool tracking Wolves No.3 Rayan Ait-Nouri and Bournemouth No.3 Milos Kerkez

Sources have now informed TBR Football that Liverpool are closely monitoring Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves and Bournemouth No.3 Milos Kerkez.

The left-back department has been earmarked as a position where there is room for improvement, despite the presence of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.

Robertson struggled hugely against Bukayo Saka in last week’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal, whereas Liverpool were happy to sell Tsimikas during the summer transfer window after just eight Premier League starts for the Greece international last season.

Interestingly, TBR Football understand Liverpool have even been tracking Ait-Nouri for more than 12 months, so the Algeria international, who Wolves signed in a £9.5m deal from Angers, seems to be the preferred option ahead of Kerkez.

Furthermore, the Reds have also cast their net beyond English football, with scouts watching Ajax No.4 Jorrel Hato in action this season.

However, Arsenal also admire Hato, so any move could see the Gunners rival Liverpool for the Dutchman.

Liverpool right to focus on looming left-back issue

Some may question Liverpool for already making plans for the left-back department, amid the uncertainty surrounding Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk, although it makes sense.

Should all three of these superstars depart, Liverpool do have backup options, with Conor Bradley able to step in at right-back, Joe Gomez or Jarrell Quansah in the centre of defence, while the precocious Ben Doak is a similar profile of forward to Salah, although few players on the planet are good enough to replace the Egyptian, it must be said.

However, the left-back department is fairly weak behind Robertson and Tsimikas, who have both shown signs that they are slipping below the required standard in recent times.

The Scotland international was particularly unconvincing as Saka twisted him in knots at the Emirates Stadium last week.

Hopefully, Liverpool can find a fresh face in that area, while also securing the futures of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold too.