Bournemouth appear to have this week softened their stance on selling Alex Scott in January, with the Cherries inviting a bidding war that they hope will include Liverpool.
The Reds have shown a tentative interest in Scott in recent months though Chelsea have been the most active pursuers with several bids, reaching a high of around £68million in the summer.
Bournemouth had originally issued hands-off warnings on their key players until at least next summer – a group also including Rayan and Eli Kroupi Junior. But it is understood they have now privately conceded they would cash in on Scott mid-season if certain conditions were met.
That includes Premier League security looking likely and a £100m fee on the table. The Cherries are yet to win a league game under Andoni Iraola's replacement Marco Rose.
It would be a surprise if Liverpool were to act in the winter transfer window but it has not been beyond them in recent years.
Indeed, it appears that Bournemouth are keen to spark a bidding war.
Sources say the south-coast club believe Liverpool are serious in the chase – in the driving seat in fact, thanks to the Iraola link.
Sceptics would point out it's in Bournemouth's interest to pressure Chelsea into a high bid.
But it is clear that the Reds do like Scott, who excelled on England duty in the recent international break before suffering a muscle injury. Still, it remains to be seen whether they would pay £100m for a player whose contract would only have 18 months remaining in January.
With no new contract currently on the table for Alexis Mac Allister and no midfield signings since 2023, Liverpool will look to strengthen that area of the pitch in the next 12 months or so.
They also like Lamine Camara of Monaco, another midfielder fancied by Chelsea.
Leoni latest
Giovanni Leoni is the forgotten man at Liverpool – and fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him.
The Italian has been on a lengthy comeback trail after suffering a cruciate ligament injury on his debut 13 months ago, and is not expected to rejoin team training until the next international break.
Patience must be urged even when he begins training and his load will be managed – he will not take part in every session and will be eased back slowly.
Leoni could also feature for Rob Page’s Under 21s side to build fitness.
It was originally hoped he would return to training in either late September or mid-October but that date has been pushed back several times.
Hungarian media stoke Szoboszlai flame
Dominik Szoboszlai remains hopeful of returning to action in the next week after missing the last two games through a hamstring injury – despite claims from Hungary that it is a serious issue.
The vice-captain sat in the stands for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City and then was not part of the squad against LASK – although he joined the team in travelling to Austria.
Rumours had suggested Szoboszlai’s injury might have been worse than Iraola’s initial verdict – he said it was just an ‘overload’ on international duty – and Hungarian media then claimed Szoboszlai would miss the next few matches.
But sources close to the vice-captain have played down any fears of the issue being a more serious problem. And then Szoboszlai himself, talking briefly to British reporters after Liverpool’s win at LASK, said ‘we will see’ when it comes to a return in the next week.
He will be given a chance at the very least to be part of the squad travelling to Brentford.
When will young buck Abe be fit?
There is a lot of buzz in the Liverpool fanbase around teenager Josh Abe, who went on the first team's pre-season tour of America – and many fans have asked Confidential when they can expect him to be fit from surgery on his shoulder.
It is understood he is still about a month away from returning to training.
Mixed zone diaries: s’il vous plait, Bradley?
If only I had not ditched French for German at GCSE! Well, my German's not up to much either, as I have proved repeatedly on this week’s trip to German-speaking Austria.
After the win over LASK, there was a cordial exchange with hat-trick hero Bradley Barcola where he was asked for a chat in English and declined, to which I – for some reason – said: ‘We can do the interview in French and I’ll get AI to translate it!’
He replied: ‘You speak French?!’
I don’t… and he was soon saying his goodbyes as he left with the match-ball.
Barcola did not need to talk anyway, his facial expression said it all: he was euphoric to open his Liverpool account with a treble. Now can he do it on a cold, autumnal afternoon in Hounslow?
Loan watch: Elliott impressing
After starring in the Under-21 Euros in 2025, many might have expected Harvey Elliott to be a fully-fledged international by now. Instead, his prospects have nosedived.
But the recent international break was a chance for Elliott to reset, build fitness and confidence under new Valencia manager Javier Aguirre (who readers may remember from his touchline antics with Mexico at the World Cup).
Elliott changed Sunday's game against Racing Santander after coming on as a substitute and Aguirre said: ‘When I arrived, I saw the data for Dani Raba, Harvey Elliott, and Hugo Duro, and that they weren’t playing. I watched them train and thought, “These guys have to play”.’
Small steps but it appears the Liverpool loanee is heading in the right direction. Across the city of Valencia, meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ndukwe is making strides at Levante.
The defender, a star of pre-season who could not get a work permit and was forced to leave on loan, has featured in their last three La Liga matches – culminating in a last-gasp equaliser at home to Sevilla on Monday.
His emergence has helped his bid for a work permit in England.
Kop Kids: striker Will is all Wright!
Liverpool battled to a thrilling 4-2 victory in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday afternoon on the outskirts of Linz, coming from two down to beat LASK.
The main man, as has often been the case this season, was young striker Will Wright, who scored a hat-trick and assisted Luca Eden for the other goal.
With Hugo Ekitike out for a bit longer yet and Liverpool having fitness issues in attack, Wright, 18, may soon be knocking on the first-team door.
The week ahead: Iraola’s date with former right-hand man
One of the first people to text Iraola after the Champions League draw was made was Inigo Perez, the Villarreal boss who was the Basque’s No 2 at Rayo Vallecano.
Perez could not get the necessary work permit to join Iraola at Bournemouth so remained in Vallecas, where his side made the Conference League final only to lose to Crystal Palace.
He is now at Villarreal and has a similar style of play to Iraola. ‘Pressing is the best playmaker,’ he once said, and he has described his team as ‘ordered chaos’.
No doubt the pair will share a glass of red wine at Anfield on Tuesday.