Liverpool have been linked with a number of potential replacements for Georginio Wijnaldum this summer, following the midfielder's move to Paris Saint-Germain. Wijnaldum's contract with Liverpool officially expires at the end of this month and he has penned a three-year deal with the Ligue 1 giants.
The 30-year-old was an integral part of Liverpool's success during his five-year stay at Anfield, helping the Reds win the Premier League and the Champions League.
Now that he has left the club, Liverpool are looking to bring in a replacement and one player who has been linked with a move to Merseyside is Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente.
According to a report from Spanish publication El Gol Digital, Liverpool are interested in the 26-year-old, who is said to be viewed by manager Jurgen Klopp as an ideal replacement for Wijnaldum.
Speaking to AS recently, Llorente refused to rule out a move away from Atletico, saying: "I have many years left [on my contract].
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Liverpool may use Champions League heartbreak as inspiration to land Wijnaldum replacement (Image: GETTY)
Llorente's uncle and agent, Julio, has previously revealed that Liverpool have made contact over a potential move.
Speaking to Cadena SER last year, he said: "I have received many calls from Anfield for Marcos Llorente."
And Liverpool know first-hand just how good the midfielder is, having been on the receiving end of a performance that Llorente has said was "a great turning point for my career".
Back in March 2020, Llorente starred for Atletico in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
Liverpool may use Champions League heartbreak as inspiration to land Wijnaldum replacement (Image: GETTY)
Atletico entered the game with a 1-0 lead thanks to their victory in the first leg, but Liverpool soon levelled things up thanks to a goal from Wijnaldum.
In extra-time, a strike from Roberto Firmino gave the Reds the lead, before Llorente turned the game on it's head with two goals in nine minutes and an assist for Alvaro Morata's late goal.
A natural holding midfielder, Llorente was used in a more advanced role by Diego Simeone last season and he has also been deployed as a right-back during Spain's Euro 2020 campaign.
A versatile option, Llorente could well be a good fit at Anfield and club chiefs will certainly be well aware of what he can offer, with memories of that night at Anfield living long in the memory.