Liverpool have registered an interest in precocious Italian centre-back Giorgio Scalvini across recent weeks, with the Atalanta starlet attracting attention following his exploits in Serie A.

According to reports in Italy, Inter Milan and Juventus are both considering a move for the defender with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp also interested in the player who will likely command a transfer fee in the region of £34m.

While such a figure might appear somewhat steep for a teenager with inexperience on the major stage, there is no question about the skill set that would continue to expand into a refined arsenal that could well leave Scalvini among the very premium defenders across world football.

With Liverpool's issues this season well documented, fresh, youthful and vibrant life would go a long way to re-establishing a sense of stability, and a move might indeed be forthcoming.

Bye-bye Matip

Liverpool's only victory of 2022, across all competitions, came in an FA Cup third-round replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Reds contentiously scraping a draw in the initial fixture.

And with a drab recent home draw against Chelsea in the Premier League, preceded by woeful defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, the compounding nature of the club's strife means that signings appear to be the only remedy to fix the problems the outfit are beset with is with a fresh face.

This season, the 19-year-old has made 16 appearances for his Italian outfit, scoring two goals and registering one assist, swiftly asserting himself as a centrepiece for success following a breakthrough campaign last year where he only started nine league matches.

As per FBref, the three-cap international ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for rate of goals and shot-creating actions, also in the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 11% for dribbles completed, illustrating the offensive impact he could bring on top of his innate defensive skills.

And despite his tender age, the "top talent" - as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano - has recorded an average Serie A rating of 6.81, as per Sofascore, making 1.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per outing, which indicates an all-encompassing present that will only stretch to the light like a sunflower in the sun.

If Liverpool do indeed make their move, it could prove to be a marked improvement on Joel Matip, with Klopp perhaps making a majorly bold move to ditch a seasoned veteran of the club.

Indeed, in comparison the Cameroon defender has averaged just a Sofascore rating of 6.59 in the top-flight of English football, making 1.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, in spite of the increased amount of defending Klopp's charges have had to do in 2022/23.

Matip has made 180 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Premier League and the Champions League among other major honours, but is out of contract next summer and has been at the epicentre of the plaguing issues of the outfit.

As such, Liverpool would be prudent to instigate a move this year; if Klopp sees an opening this winter, he might push for a move, but if indeed the Reds hierarchy have to wait for the summer to strike, a deal for a player that can take Matip's baton must indeed be snatched with swift conviction.