Liverpool were recently handed a youth transfer ban for the coming season, but that won't stop them signing first team players or young players from abroad, and there is hope at Anfield that in the coming weeks they can do just that by signing a young, borderline first team player from France.
At least if reports in L'Equippe are to be believed, with the French paper claiming Liverpool are trying to poach 18-year-old centre half Mahamadou Dembele, who has so far resisted signing a professional contract with the Ligue 1 big spenders and could be had for a pittance in compensation.
Dembele is regarded as one of PSG's top youth players and has impressed in the UEFA youth league this season, reportedly attracting the attention of a number of clubs outside of France who are eager to take advantage of his contract status to potentially land a promising defensive bargain.
However, at least according to reports in France, PSG don't consider the player a lost cause and feel there is at least a decent chance he will remain in Paris, and with the player having proven his quality at the youth level this year the club are now willing to pay what he has been asking for.
If that's true, it could be that this has never been anything more than a case of the player and his agent trying to turn supposed interest into a better deal. Still, Dembele is well regarded in French football circles, and if he could be had on the cheap, it would be foolish for Liverpool not to at least sniff around.
Dembele has been a regular for France at the youth levels, and has so far made eight competitive appearances for the country's U18 side.