Liverpool are drawing up a long-term plan to bolster their midfield department. Jurgen Klopp has a wealth of options at his disposal currently, but it remains to be seen what happens in summer.
Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara are all over the age of 30, and the future of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is beginning to look uncertain. Moreover, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones aren't yet at the stage where they could start for the Reds every week.
Aurelien Tchouameni has been tipped for a move to Merseyside of late. The AS Monaco midfielder is just 22-years-old, and he's acquired the attention of Europe's heavyweights this season.
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Real Madrid and Chelsea are rumoured to be chasing his signature, with the Spanish outfit believed to be favourites. Speculation has suggested he could be on the move at the end of this campaign. A fee of around £50m is being touted in various reports.
Tchouameni appears particularly capable on the defensive side of the game, having contributed to Monaco's ability to regain possession in the middle of the park.
He ranks third in Europe's top five leagues for tackles and interceptions this term. Last season, he placed joint-top by the same numbers. His underlying figures capture his tendency to sweep up balls within his vicinity.
The links with Liverpool are curious once considering recent comments made by Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund talent has been tipped for a return to England, but he's seemingly ended those rumours this week.
“I will be here at Borussia Dortmund next season. I'm ready,” he said. “The only future I'm thinking about is the next game with Dortmund.”
His comments potentially hint towards a transfer next summer. In 2023, he will have two years remaining on his contract, which suggests his big move will happen in 12 months.
Unlike Tchouameni, Bellingham is very much in the mould of an attack-minded midfielder. The 18 year-old is well-rounded, but he's naturally more inclined to drive forward as opposed to holding the fort.
He's scored three goals and registered seven assists in the Bundesliga this season. Last year - as a 17-year-old prospect - he scored once and posted three assists.
On top of his scoring returns, Bellingham shoots more often than most of his peers and also seems to be a keen dribbler. He ranks fifth in the German top-flight for completed dribbles this season, behind only Patrick Wimmer, Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry and Christopher Nkunku, all of whom are forwards.
He's also received a total of 166 progressive passes from his teammates, which places him behind only Thomas Muller among midfielders. Bellingham's tendency to receive those types of passes captures his habit of occupying higher spaces in the final third.
Liverpool don't tend to sign midfielders who are as offensive as Bellingham, but if Tchouameni was to occupy a spot alongside him at Anfield, Klopp would have a solid dynamic to work with.
A midfield trio which consists of the Frenchman, Fabinho and Bellingham would prepare the Reds to dominate for years to come. Those three players would adequately complement one another.
The defensive stability provided by Fabinho and Tchouameni would present Bellingham with the freedom to attack the penalty box. Klopp would have an ultimate trio at his disposal, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Liverpool will no doubt continue to carefully monitor the transfer market moving forward. But the prospect of Bellingham and Tchouameni shaping Klopp's next midfield would be a very exciting one indeed for Reds fans.
