Confirmed: £85m Brazil forward is Richard Hughes' dream target

Liverpool’s need for one-v-one quality on the wings is well-documented.

The club’s stated aims in the transfer window have been expressed by Andoni Iraola and former coaching incumbent Arne Slot.

Mohamed Salah has left the club after reaching an agreement to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early. Others such as Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo could join the Egyptian King on the list of departures should the right bids be received.

Liverpool won the Premier League title under Slot in 2024/25 - benefitting largely from the quality of their wide forwards. Luis Diaz and Gakpo held their own on the left and as stop-gap centre-forwards while Salah was immense in his own right.

But the forward line experienced a collective and individual lull last season - with Diaz leaving for Bayern Munich into the bargain.

Barcola alternatives are emerging

It’s imperative to bring the right wingers to the club this off-season with Bradley Barcola top of the list. Liverpool wanted to add Yan Diomande but were knocked back in their attempts to sign him from RB Leipzig.

He is now on the way to Real Madrid - leaving Richard Hughes facing the prospect of paying top-dollar to sign Bradley Barcola.

A report in talkSPORT is now claiming that the Reds won’t overpay for the Paris Saint-Germain winger with the European champions expecting around £145m for his signature.

Rayan is Liverpool's dream target

Those demands could in turn bring other targets into play - with Rayan of Bournemouth now described as a “dream”.

“Bournemouth's Rayan is also considered a dream target,” the report reads.

“But the Brazilian teenager's release clause, of over €100m (around £85m), doesn't kick in until 2027.”

Liverpool were linked with the former Vasco da Gama talent at the back end of last year. But Bournemouth got in there first - tying up a deal for the teenager at around £26m.

Rayan's £85m clause kicks in for 2027

The Merseysiders may well regret losing out on the Brazil international - who went on to score five Premier League goals in 15 appearances in the second half of the campaign.

Andoni Iraola got the best out of the left-footed attacker - who has drawn comparisons with Adriano for his style of play.

The 19-year-old is under contract at the Vitality Stadium until 2031 and until that clause kicks in Liverpool would be faced with the prospect of another nine-figure deal.