This week is set to be filled with substantive Liverpool transfer news. Sadio Mané is nearing a big money deal to come to Anfield, while Martin Skrtel could be on his way elsewhere after the Slovakian national team was eliminated from the European Championships.
Still, fringe stories of players vaguely linked to the club will persist. One example of that is Liverpool's supposed pursuit of Dinamo Zagreb playmaking winger Marko Pjaca, which the Daily Star claims to have advanced to an actual bid from the Reds.
The Daily Star's report, stemming from an article in Gazzetta dello Sport, states that Liverpool had a £12.2 million bid rejected by Zagreb. The Croatian side is apparently holding out for at least £16 million for the 21-year-old midfielder, who has also attracted the interest of Inter Milan, Roma and Fiorentina this summer.
Pjaca possesses the rare mixture of height, pace and individual dribbling skill. It's a foundation that could blossom into something special under the right tutelage, and there's no doubt Jürgen Klopp has the ability to push young players to the next level.
However, an expensive jump to Liverpool right now seems premature for all parties involved. He's yet to prove himself capable of making the jump to a competition level like the Premier League, and the Reds would be wise to sit back and track his progress over the next season. But from Zagreb's perspective, another season under the spotlight of the Champions League could further boost his value.
As of now, this appears to be a fictitious rumor that's unlikely to stick around for much longer. But even if this proves to not be a real thing, Pjaca is an interesting player worth keeping an eye on during the upcoming campaign.