Liverpool have been given a boost in their bid to sign a top-class young defender, with the player believed to be keen on a move to Anfield.
The season isn't over, the Champions League quarter-finals are underway and a top-four finish is still being chased – but at Anfield, the summer planning has begun.
And for all that's coming this week, it's shaping up to be one of the most important buildings since Arne Slot walked through the door, but not the massive violence of last summer.
Liverpool are reportedly chasing Newcastle's Anthony Gordon in what could be two youngster swaps.
Cody Gakpo, who has divided opinion throughout the campaign, is being offered by the saviors, and the future of the Dutch coach is increasingly uncertain even though he signed a contract extension to 2030 only last August.
Gordon, a lifelong Liverpool fan who came agonizingly close to joining before signing a long-term deal with Newcastle, remains high on Slott's wish list for a left-back upgrade (TEAMtalk).
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Gordon is not the only Newcastle player on FSG's radar either, with some reports claiming Liverpool are in contention for Italian star Sandro Tonali.
The right side of the defense also needs serious attention.
Conor Bradley has been out since January after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal and will not feature again this season. Jeremie Frimpong was also hampered by hamstring problems during his first year on Merseyside.
Finding a reliable, long-term right-back option next summer is now a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes.
But it's not the only area of defense Liverpool are exploring.
Rogerio Nyakossi wants to join Liverpool
According to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, in association with Sport Witness, Liverpool are turning their attention to the young defender who has quietly made a name for himself in Belgium's top flight.
Rogerio Nyakossi, a 22-year-old Swiss full-back, has attracted attention with an outstanding season at OH Leuven, where he arrived from Marseille in January 2025.
This campaign he has started 17 of 18 league games, averaging four concessions per game and contributing three goals – a remarkable return for a defender.
The club compared him to Ezechiel Banzuzi, who left OH Leuven for RB Leipzig last summer for £14 million, and the “new Bannzuzi” label has followed Nyakossi ever since.
The way to sign him, however, is not entirely straightforward.
Marseille hold a buy-back clause for the player, the exact price of which has not yet been disclosed. If the French club chooses to exercise that option, Liverpool will be prevented from pursuing him further.
If they don't, OH Leuven are expected to demand a 'big deal' – although that will likely fall short of the £14 million they got for Banzuzi.
Liverpool, the report says, appear to be 'willing' to pay the required fee.
Worse, Nyakossi would “very much like” to join Liverpool, giving Slot's team even more incentive.
For Liverpool, getting a hungry, developing centre-back with a top-flight pedigree to perform well would tick several boxes at once. Whether Marseille gets in the way remains an important question.
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