Liverpool could start to make their moves in the transfer market as targets drop out of international tournaments.

The Reds have so far been extraordinarily quiet in the summer window, with Euro 2024 and the Copa America hindering their ability to get deals done.

Thankfully, both tournaments are now almost down to the last eight, leaving plenty of potential Liverpool targets free to discuss transfers.

One who that very much applies to is Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori. Calafiori has been heavily linked with Liverpool and has shone during the European Championship.

However, with Italy surprisingly crashing out against Switzerland in the last-16, the 22-year-old could now be a name we start to hear even more about.

Bologna director opens up on Riccardo Calafiori transfer

Calafiori really caught the eye for Italy in Germany this summer. It was perhaps not a coincidence that the Bologna man was suspended for Monday’s loss to the Swiss.

Shorn of Calafiori’s calm and front-footed defending, the Azzurri conceded twice and were sent packing.

From a Liverpool point of view, that could be good news. Reds sporting director Richard Hughes reportedly has long-standing interesting in Calafiori and Arne Slot could do with a new centre-back.

Unsurprisingly though, Liverpool are not the only team interested in the former Roma man. Up until this point, it had always seemed as though Juventus were favourites to land Calafiori.

Despite that, there were claims from the Italian press on Sunday that Bologna would actually prefer Calafiori to move to the Premier League instead.

And this is now backed up by the club’s technical director, Giovanni Satori. In quotes via journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Sartori has claimed that it’s ‘probable’ that Calafiori heads abroad this summer, if he is to leave Bologna that is.

“I think he will not end up joining Juventus,” says the director. “Probably he can go abroad, in case we decide to sell him.

“We’d like to keep Calafiori so let’s see what happens.”

Liverpool given Riccardo Calafiori advantage

If this is good news for Liverpool in their pursuit of Calafiori, then it only adds to the pile of such updates they’ve seemingly received over the players recently.

Hughes’ presence at Anfield could end up being the deciding factor. The 42-year-old has strong links to the Italian game and that could be a trump card for the Reds to play.

Another could be Bologna’s reported interest in Sepp van den Berg. After an excellent season at Mainz Van den Berg has been open about wanting to leave Liverpool.

Should Bologna’s interest in the Dutchman be genuine, then it feels that Liverpool could have another advantage regarding Calafiori.

The Reds do need to get moving if they are to bring in any players this summer. Plenty of signs point to Calafiori being first up on the agenda.

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