Liverpool is among the Premier League clubs that have inquired about a transfer for Bologna's Euro 2024 standout, Riccardo Calafiori, who has impressed for Italy.
Calafiori became well-known during Italy's 2-1 victory over Albania, which commenced Group B's action at the Euros on Saturday.
However, the 22-year-old was already on Liverpool's radar following an exceptional debut season with Bologna, where he made 37 appearances in all competitions after transferring from Basel.
This information comes from James Horncastle of The Athletic, a notably reliable source on Italian football, who reported on Tuesday.
According to Horncastle, interest in Calafiori was "already high" before the Euros, with Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, and West Ham all making inquiries about his availability.
Bologna, for their part, intends to retain their number 33. However, Juventus, now managed by Thiago Motta who recently joined from Bologna, is reportedly the frontrunner for his signature.
While no specific price tag has been mentioned, any transaction involving Calafiori is expected to be expensive, especially since Basel is entitled to approximately 40 to 50 percent of the transfer fee.
Horncastle characterizes him as a "hybrid centre-back," a transformation from an attacking left-back under Motta's guidance at Bologna.
Last season, Calafiori also played six times as a left-back but has now established himself in a new role as a progressive, ball-playing centre-back.
Could he be the next Van Dijk, or perhaps his future partner?
This prospect is undoubtedly intriguing to Liverpool, who are reportedly looking for a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk or a new left-sided centre-back to complement Arne Slot's preferred setup.
At Feyenoord, Slot often orchestrated play with his right-back moving into midfield and the left-back joining the two central defenders to form a trio at the back.
