The Jude Bellingham dream has seemingly ended for hitherto hopeful Liverpool supporters, who cut glum figures when a multitude of reports on Tuesday night claimed that the Borussia Dortmund man would not be making the move to Anfield.
Despite reported positive contacts with the 19-year-old's father and Bellingham's desire to strut his stuff for the Reds, Fenway Sports Group have ostensibly decided that the finances involved in such a deal are simply not worth it, especially with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City also lining up to present lucrative offers.
Potentially operating on a restricted budget without Champions League football - or European football as a whole should they fail to improve on their eighth-placed standing in the Premier League table - John W Henry could not justify forking out as much as £135m on one marquee player, despite his undeniable talent.
However, with all of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Juventus loanee Arthur departing at the end of the season - possibly alongside James Milner if the veteran does not agree a new contract - midfield additions will still be priority number one for Jurgen Klopp, who could welcome two or as many as three engine room enforcers to the club now that their cash reserves will not be saved for Bellingham.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at five realistic alternatives that Liverpool could sign in place of Bellingham this summer.
© Reuters
Already boasting a vast array of experience on English soil, having played an integral role in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph, Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella is a name on quite a few lips right now.
The 26-year-old, regarded as one of the top players in his position on the continent, has seven goals and eight assists to his name this season, and the Reds' need for more direct goal contributions from midfield is well-documented.
Furthermore, with Barella often favouring the right-hand side of the midfield trident, there could be scope for the Italy international to offer more protection to Trent Alexander-Arnold on that side, with the Englishman's defensive capabilities still being called into question as ever.
With a contract at San Siro until 2026, Barella would not be allowed to depart for pennies, but reports in Italy have claimed that the former Cagliari youngster could be allowed to seek pastures new for as little as €50m (£44m) this summer.
Inter apparently came to such a decision due to Barella's recent underwhelming performances in their four-game Serie A winless streak, but his standout showing against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday may add a few more pounds to his value.
© Reuters
Expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents in Europe this summer, Leicester City's Youri Tielemans is not expected to stick around at the King Power Stadium for much longer.
With the Foxes embroiled in the relegation dogfight - sitting in 19th place in the rankings - their chances of agreeing a new contract with the Belgian are increasingly slim, and a departure seems inevitable if the 2021 FA Cup winners are consigned to Championship football next season.
Leicester's predicament has not been helped by Tielemans's contributions drying up, with the 25-year-old managing four goals and one assist in 29 games across all tournaments this season, although an ankle injury has kept him sidelined for the past six weeks.
A protracted transfer saga involving Arsenal last summer ultimately led to nowhere, and while the Gunners could go back in this summer, Tielemans has dropped below Declan Rice in their midfield wishlist.
The prospect of signing Tielemans on a free transfer will no doubt appeal to FSG, but the ex-Monaco man will not be short of offers by any stretch - allowing him to play hardball when it comes to wage demands - and his recent injury setback may lead to some apprehension creeping in for Reds hierarchy.
© Reuters
Dutch protege Ryan Gravenberch could not have realistically expected to waltz into the Bayern Munich starting XI upon leaving Ajax last year, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka linking arms in one of Europe's most formidable midfield partnerships.
However, the 20-year-old would have been banking on making more than four starts in his debut season in Bavaria, with Julian Nagelsmann overlooking him time and time again before surprisingly being given the boot last month.
The early signs under Thomas Tuchel are not promising for Gravenberch either, as he has only made the first XI in one Bundesliga game this season and was an unused substitute in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City.
Gravenberch recently admitted to Ajax Showtime that he would consider a swift exit from the Allianz Arena if his situation did not improve, although he is still under contract with Bayern until 2027, and the German champions supposedly still believe that he can come good in future years.
A loan exit should not be ruled out as Gravenberch goes in search of regular minutes, but Arsenal are now also said to be in the race for his signature with Liverpool, whose current Dutch incumbents Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo would offer the 2002-born lynchpin a warm welcome.
© Reuters
From one English midfielder to another, Liverpool are understood to have earmarked Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount as their number one engine room target after conceding defeat in their pursuit of Bellingham.
The 24-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge has been a hot-button topic for several months now, with the Blues no closer to tying him down to a new deal beyond 2024, and a sale could be on the cards this summer if negotiations fail to bear fruit.
Prior to sustaining a troublesome abdominal injury, Mount's influence in the Chelsea side had waned, but the England international's strong relationship with Frank Lampard should see him enjoy a prominent role for the Blues as the season draws to a close.
While primarily operating behind the striker, Mount's eye for goal and creative penchant can also be utilised in the number eight role - an intriguing prospect for Klopp - and the 24-year-old would also fill the home-grown quota.
A £70m asking price has reportedly been slapped on the midfielder's head, but with Chelsea at risk of letting him walk out of the door for nothing at the end of next season, Reds chiefs ought to feel confident of driving the price down significantly.
© Reuters
Sitting bottom of the Premier League table and four points adrift of safety with eight games left to play, few positives can be taken from Southampton's abysmal season, but the emergence of 19-year-old Romeo Lavia is certainly one of them.
The Belgium international was allowed to depart Manchester City for as little as £10.8m last summer, and while a hamstring injury has hampered his maiden year in red and white, Lavia's tough-tackling abilities and progressive carries have rightfully earned many plaudits.
Even if the Saints miraculously survive the drop, their hopes of holding onto Lavia for the 2023-24 season are thin, with a number of Big Six members waiting to pounce during the summer window.
All of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United are said to be interested in the teenager's services, and while Man City are understood to possess a £40m buyback clause, the Premier League champions cannot trigger it until 2024.
An unrestrained scramble for Lavia's signature could therefore materialise in the upcoming transfer window, and with the 19-year-old adept in the number six role as well as box-to-box duties, Liverpool could very well have found their long-term replacement for a declining Fabinho too.
Ben Knapton
