Liverpool could use the forgotten player in a mad swap for Euro 2024 star Riccardo Calafiori

Liverpool have received a major boost in their pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori, with Bologna seriously interested in a forgotten Liverpool player who could be heading in the opposite direction.

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

Slot will also have to deal with the precarious situation Jurgen Klopp has left him in 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 be in a transfer rush this summer but have been linked with 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, especially for English fans who were previously unfamiliar with the Italian rising star.

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

Although Liverpool are not far from being in pole position to sign the 22-year-old, they have been handed a huge boost that could help them get the Bologna deal over the line.

Cauliflower – Getty

According to The Daily Mail, the Serie A side are extremely interested in Sepp Van den Berg as Calafiori’s direct replacement should he leave the club.

Liverpool value the defender at around £20million 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 in 2019, so if he could knock a significant chunk of Bologna’s Calafiori’s asking price, it would seem like a no-brainer for Liverpool.