Liverpool Linked with Luis Alberto and Christian Atsu

Fresh off yesterday's news about the agreement in place to bring Iago Aspas to Liverpool and the comments from Luis Suarez on Uruguayan radio, a new batch of potential targets emerges, led by young Sevilla loanee--and Barca B standout from this season--Luis Alberto and Porto winger Christian Atsu. As always, these discussion are better had as hypotheticals about what they'd bring to the club rather than making sweeping assertions about whether or not being linked to a certain player represents the downfall of civilization as we know it. That's just silly talk.

Unless Paul Konchesky and Phillipp Degen become the answers to Liverpool's lack of depth at fullback. Then we're probably all doomed.

I've not seen a great deal of either player, with Atsu's name the only one that I remotely recognize given the fact that I was able to catch a few Porto matches throughout the season. Ghana Soccernet are running something they're calling an EXCLUSIVE about the player's future, with reports that the player and Liverpool are looking to agree a deal in the coming days, after the club apparently tabled a £3m offer last week. The piece goes so far as to say that a tentative medical date is set for next week, though I'm operating under the assumption that no pictures of Zaf Iqbal and his emotionless physiological examination technique can be unveiled until the transfer window's open for good.

He worked his way into the senior Ghanaian national team last year, featuring regularly since making his debut against Lesotho last June. His numbers weren't overwhelming for Porto this season, notching only one goal in league and an assist in Champions League competition, but he's widely regarded as an excellent young prospect, having just turned 21 in January. Unfortunately in Andy Carroll years that means he's probably past it.

But hey, moving pictures:

The less tenuous link--which mostly depends on your feelings about Guillem Balague once again--seems to be for Alberto, who spent the year on loan with Barca's B team in the Spanish Second Division. Second only to highly-rated striker Gerard Deulofeo in goals, Alberto had a terrific season from the midfield and has found himself subject to a number of inquiries, with Liverpool apparently leading the way.

From Balague:

Luis Alberto (Barcelona B) is the other Spanish player that is about to agree to join Liverpool.A midfielder in the Xavi/Iniesta mould

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) May 30, 2013

Only thing that would stop Luis Alberto signing for Liverpool is if FCB activate a clause. But great football eye by Brendan and LFC

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) May 30, 2013

He also compliments the 20 year old's ability from set pieces and makes note of his adaptability, and if he's accurate about Liverpool being in pole position for the midfielder/forward's services, it'll be another nice name to add to the promising set of attacking players already at the club. Nothing to start to feel too much of anything about, but an encouraging link after yesterday fizzled out once the Aspas news was through.

Read More: Another Day, Another Suarez Firestorm