Report: Liverpool have wanted £63,500-a-week man since 2016, Klopp is still monitoring him

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According to the Independent, Liverpool have been tracking Raphinha since 2016, and remain interested in the Brazilian forward.

What’s the story?

Well, the Independent believe Liverpool have been keeping an eye on the £63,500-a-week winger ever since he was seen at the Copa Sao Paulo.

The Reds spotted the £17m man at Brazil’s most acclaimed youth tournament, which is described as the scouting sea.

The Independent claim that he was deemed not ready for the Premier League as he first made a move to Sporting Lisbon, and then Rennes.

However, when Rennes loosened their hands-off warning, it was Leeds who swooped in last summer to bring Raphinha to England’s top-flight.

Since then, he has shone. The 24-year-old scored six goals and provided nine assists in the Premier League last season.

Liverpool must be kicking themselves that they weren’t the ones to pounce on such a bargain, but Goal believe Jürgen Klopp is still monitoring him.

After Raphinha error, Liverpool need to start taking more risks again

It seems a strange thing to say about a club who signed Andy Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum from relegated clubs, but the Reds must start taking risks again.

Liverpool have got themselves to a point where their squad is world class, and so reinforcements are chosen wisely and carefully.

That led to just one new face arriving over the summer in Ibrahima Konate.

That’s all well and good, but the Reds must start taking more risks from this January onwards for the sake of the squad’s future.

A lot of Klopp’s stars are nearing their thirties, or are already in their thirties.

What Liverpool need to do is sign players who can swiftly come in to replace them when the time comes, rather than wait until the times comes.

We saw it when Leicester already had Çağlar Söyüncü signed and in the building before Harry Maguire joined Manchester United.

Once his £85m move was complete, Söyüncü – already settled and trained in Leicester’s tactics – slotted straight in.

Seizing on market opportunities like Raphinha, even if there’s no immediate need for them, is something Liverpool need to do.

There’s no harm in loaning them out until Klopp is ready for them, as long as they are contracted to Liverpool – the Reds must get more active.