Liverpool could offload wantaway star in transfer swap deal - it wouldn't be the first time

Riccardo Calafiori has been one of the stars of Euro 2024 so far.

His own goal against Spain might have consigned Italy to a defeat in their second group game, but he has shone defensively throughout the group-stages and earned plenty of acclaim as a result. Meanwhile, it was his eye-catching assist for Mattia Zaccagni that earned a last-minute draw against Croatia, carrying the ball out of defence, playing a smart one-two before evading a challenge and picking out the right pass.

The defender seemingly has every desired attribute going you want in a centre-back. He’s in the air and on the ball when carrying it out of defence, he’s quick, he has an exquisite passing range too, and he would certainly not look out of place in a Liverpool backline as a result.

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Meanwhile, the 22-year-old left-footer is versatile, capable of playing at centre-back or left-back, and fits the profile of desired defenders the Reds initially looked at last summer.

Excitement ensued when the Athletic reported that Liverpool had enquired about the Italy international. But while Reds supporters, having come down with a case of ‘tournament fever’ during the Euros, might be keen to see their club sign the Italian, as things stand such a desire looks set to be left unfulfilled.

While Liverpool are currently monitoring Leny Yoro’s situation at Lille, and are poised to pounce if he doesn’t get his desired switch to Real Madrid, it is understood that the Reds don’t see a new centre-back as an immediate priority at this time. Instead, club bosses consider other areas of the squad in need of more immediate reinforcement.

Of course, such a stance could change as the summer goes on, but for now Liverpool are keeping their powder dry. As a result, they risk missing out on Calafiori.

Juventus have reportedly agreed personal terms with the defender as they look to reunite him with manager Thiago Motta. However, contrasting reports overseas debate whether the Old Lady are actually close to agreeing a £40m deal with Bologna or not. Meanwhile, reports in Italy claim Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are ready to swoop in if they can’t agree a fee.

However, Liverpool could find themselves entering transfer negotiations with the Serie A outfit in the weeks ahead, with the Daily Mail reporting that Bologna are interested in signing Sepp van den Berg as a replacement for Calafiori if he indeed departs.

Unsurprisingly, this has lit up light bulbs above Reds supporters heads, with it being mooted how Liverpool could attempt to negotiate a swap deal for the Italian, having reportedly placed a £20m asking-price on the wantaway Van den Berg’s head.

‘You scratch our back, we scratch yours. We get a centre-back for a cut-price fee while you get a wantaway target as a replacement. Happy days!’

However, such a swoop would hardly be straightforward, with local-rivals Everton only recently seeing a swap deal of their own with Newcastle United fall through involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yankuba Minteh.

Liverpool have side-stepped such issues in the past by working alongside two deals simultaneously with a club.

When signing Andy Robertson from Hull City in a deal worth up to £10m, Kevin Stewart moved in the opposite direction for £8m, while Ki-Jana Hoever completed a £9m switch to Wolves when the Reds snapped up Diogo Jota for £45m.

Van den Berg has left the club in a swap deal of sorts before, moving on loan to Preston North End when Liverpool signed Ben Davies for an initial £500k in January 2021. And only last summer, a £60m swoop for Dominik Szoboszlai was negotiated with RB Leipzig when already discussing a loan move the other way for Fabio Carvalho.

With such opportunities presenting themselves after opening initial talks, it is possible that the Reds could repeat such a tactic if contacted by Bologna with regards to Van den Berg.

However, after a successful season on loan at Mainz 05 last season, the 22-year-old admittedly wants to return to the Bundesliga outfit.

“The only one who has made a decision is Sepp,” Mainz 05 sporting director Christian Heidel recently told Kicker. “He definitely wants to stay in Mainz. He has said that very clearly in public.”

Clearly such a stance would throw a spanner in the works if Liverpool had any hope of using him as a bargaining chip with Bologna. And given Van den Berg’s angry outburst against his parent club’s treatment of him earlier this month, any chance of a swap deal would be made even more complicated.

Consequently, as things stand, a Calafiori/Van den Berg swap deal appears to be little more than a Football Manager-inspired pipe dream.

Liverpool would have to alter their ‘not an immediate priority’ centre-back transfer stance for starters. But if an initial reported transfer enquiry for the Italian is to turn into anything more for the Reds, plenty of moving parts will have to change.