Liverpool could use forgotten player in crazy swap deal for Euro 2024 star Riccardo Calafiori

Liverpool have received a major boost in their pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori, as Bologna has shown serious interest in a forgotten Liverpool player who could head in the opposite direction.

Arne Slot is preparing to take charge of his first Liverpool training sessions in the coming weeks with pre-season approaching, but the Merseyside club has yet to make any summer transfer moves.

Slot will also have to deal with the precarious situation Jurgen Klopp has left him regarding some of the club’s key players, with Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil Van Dijk all heading into the final year of their contracts.

Liverpool are unlikely to rush into any transfers this summer, but they have been linked to Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, despite Juventus leading the race to sign him.

Calafiori has been one of the standout stars so far at Euro 2024, particularly for English fans who were previously unaware of the Italian rising star.

The Bologna defender was exceptional against Albania and Croatia and was a shining light again against Spain despite scoring an unfortunate own goal that cost them the game.

While Liverpool are far from in pole position to sign the 22-year-old, they have been handed a huge boost that could help them get the deal with Bologna over the line.

According to The Daily Mail, the Serie A side is extremely interested in Sepp Van den Berg as a direct replacement for Calafiori if he leaves the club. Liverpool reportedly value the defender at around £20m after an impressive season-long loan at Mainz where he made 33 league appearances, scoring three times in the process.

Van den Berg was bought from PEC Zwolle for £1.4m back in 2019, so if he could knock a significant chunk off Bologna’s asking price for Calafiori, it would seem like a no-brainer for Liverpool.