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Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day, supposedly after an 11th-hour intervention from manager Oliver Glasner. So it will come as a welcome change of pace to hear Juventus boss Igor Tudor actively encouraging interest from Anfield in one of his star defenders.
The failure of the Guehi move may very well push Liverpool back into the market. While Arne Slot might have been minded to wait until next summer, the injury to Giovanni Leoni could change the picture.
That's before considering what happens with Ibrahima Konate, who is currently in the final year of his contract and being linked to Real Madrid. It's very plausible that after an attacking rebuild this summer, Slot's next major overhaul could be in his back line.
As such, there has rarely been a better time for defenders to play for a move. The chance to come to the English champion, potentially with a brief to take over from the best center-half of all time, does not come around every day.
The same is not strictly true of full-backs. Liverpool looks to have set itself up for years this summer, adding not only Milos Kerkez but also Jeremie Frimpong.
But Frimpong's future could yet lie further forward. And if there's one thing the Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak moves taught us, it's that this ruthless new version of Liverpool will not hesitate to recruit multiple world-class players for each position.
And rather than fearing the knock on the door, Juventus manager Tudor has leaned into it. He has encouraged one of his up-and-coming talents to seize the opportunity to seal a big move.
Tudor has told Andrea Cambiaso that Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City will be in reach "shortly" if he takes his opportunity to impress. The versatile 25-year-old has spent plenty of time as a full-back and wing-back on both sides of the pitch, as well as in more central roles, and a transfer could soon beckon.
"He’s a top-level player," Tudor purred in a recent press conference, via Football Italia. "He needs to be more consistent in his performances, and he has to work and grow.
"It always depends on him. Potentially, he’s a player for the best clubs in the world, but it’s up to him to decide.
"He can play at Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City, the top clubs in the world, but he has to say: "I’ll get there because every Sunday, I’m the best." If he says that, he can go and play there shortly."
Manchester City was actually linked with a move for Cambiaso back in January. It still looks a more likely destination than Liverpool in terms of current need, but there will no doubt be some admiration for his profile at Anfield.
If Joe Gomez were to move on, after he came close to a move in the summer, a defender like Cambiaso who could cover both full-back roles would be a welcome addition. And while Andy Robertson is currently applying more than able pressure to Kerkez, the Scot will not be around forever.
If nothing else, it's nice to hear Liverpool being named among the most aspirational destinations in world football. At a time when Konate is is danger of becoming the second player poached by Real Madrid in two summers, it is a welcome reminder that getting to a place like Anfield is the ultimate goal for the vast majority.
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