‘Finalizing an agreement’: Journo drops intriguing Liverpool transfer update with move now a ‘formality’ | OneFootball

Liverpool now look set to miss out on one summer transfer target if reports are to be believed.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri told his followers on X (formerly Twitter) that Bologna believe the central defender’s exit is a formality.

This comes with Juventus driving towards a final deal that would see the Old Lady fork out between €40m & €50m [£33.8-£42.3m] for the Italian national’s services.

The Serie A star has followed up an impressive campaign in the Italian top-flight with Bologna with further eye-catching displays in the European Championship.

Follow Empire of the Kop on Instagram (@empireofthekop) HERE

The Merseysiders were thought to be keen on the 22-year-old, who could have filled a niche within the first-XI setup in light of non-existent alternatives to left-sided centre-half Virgil van Dijk.

READ MORE: Gareth Southgate’s latest cowardly decision for Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t surprise most Liverpool fans

READ MORE: ‘Chelsea not advancing’: What transfer insider has been ‘told’ about Liverpool and Nico Williams

Liverpool should be throwing their weight about

Liverpool must consider finding a long-term Van Dijk successor – (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

How many left-sided (and left-footed) centre-backs in world football can you name? How many of those would be considered good enough (or potentially good enough) to play for Liverpool?

Calafiori is one of an arguably small pool of players you’d imagine Richard Hughes and his recruitment team are keeping in mind.

Once you consider our sporting director’s connections to the Italian market, it seemed to all connect wonderfully.

That said, we have had our fair share of duds from the Serie A, with perhaps the most scarring in recent memory being the extremely injury-prone Alberto Aquilani.

The other thing to consider is that Calafiori may simply wish to remain in Italy, as many national stars from that neck of the woods often so wish.

Still, it would be a huge shame to find out later that Liverpool didn’t at least extend an opportunity his way.

EOTK Close-up with John Welsh: ‘a local lad who lived his dream’ and Slot’s LFC predictions