Liverpool have been linked with a surprising new centre-back target as Arne Slot looks to bolster his back line.
The Reds have been linked with a spate of centre-backs throughout the summer, most notably Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Aston Villa Ezri Konsa.
Indeed, their current preferred pairing is made of a 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who is entering the final year of his contract and linked with a move to Real Madrid.
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And according to GIVEMESPORT, one player being targeted as a potential understudy, or even as a possible replacement for the pair is England U21 international and Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell.
The 22-year-old is said to have been scouted by Liverpool on multiple occasions last term, and while the Reds are yet to have made a move for the defender, he is reportedly very much on their radar.
Cresswell joined Toulouse from Leeds a year ago, and impressed in his first season in Ligue 1.
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Having come through the ranks at Leeds, Cresswell would count as a homegrown player, and thus be seamless to register.
Indeed, Liverpool have filled all 17 of their squad’s permitted non-homegrown spots, upon the signings of Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz.
Premier League squads are only allowed 17 players that don’t count as homegrown or under-21.
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The same rule applies for the Champions League, except that under-21s must also be homegrown to not be exempt from the 17.
Non-homegrown players (18): Alisson, Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Endo, Salah, Diaz, Jota, Nunez, Chiesa, Gakpo
Homegrown players: (12) Mrozek, Davies, Gomez, Frimpong, Quansah, Bradley, Phillips, Beck, Stephenson, Williams, Jones, Elliott, Morton
Notable U21s: Pecsi, Nyoni, McConnell, Danns, Koumas, Doak, Bajcetic, Chambers, Gordon
Chris Byfield