Liverpool have been linked with a serious interest in West Ham United star Manuel Lanzini.
Jurgen Klopp could face a thankless task trying to keep hold of Anfield star Philippe Coutinho should Barcelona come calling following the world record £198m sale of Neymar, as reported by the likes of The Sun.
And speculation is rife that should Liverpool lose their own Brazilian, Klopp will look to lure the Hammers’ key playmaker Manuel Lanzini to Merseyside as Coutinho’s replacement, as reported by The Sun.
Slaven Bilic has gone some way to righting the wrongs of last summer in the current transfer window with some superb signings including Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Mark Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez.
A lot of that good work would be undone if the club were to lose their star playmaker to a Premier League rival.
But with the kind of transfer fees being paid in the current climate West Ham may find it difficult to resist should a big bid come their way.
Bilic could use Klopp’s interest to his advantage, though, and strengthen two key areas of his side by demanding two Liverpool players in exchange.
Both Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge have bleak futures at the club and are players that West Ham have been registered with a long-held interest in.
West Ham’s defence has looked incredibly weak in pre-season so far and first choice pairing Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna both have questionable injury records.
Sakho was superb for Crystal Palace on loan last season and will want to shine next season to force his way back into the France side in a World Cup year.
Sturridge has been looking sharp for Liverpool in pre-season but suffered a setback with an injury when scoring a sublime goal against Bayern Munich this week.
The striker has played down fears over the injury, though, and his future still remains in the balance.
In the current climate Lanzini, a current Argentina international who is still only 24 and has 15 goals and as many assists in two seasons at West Ham, is worth at least £50 million if not more.
So the Hammers should be able to get two players for key positions and then some if Liverpool want come knocking.
Bilic can no longer rely on Andy Carroll or Diafra Sakho and only have Hernandez as a senior striker on their books.
A partnership between the Mexican and Sturridge could be the most potent the East Londoners have had since Tony Cottee and Frank MacAvennie back in 1986.
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