He's the one! The only player Reds have to sign at all costs

There's one player Liverpool absolutely have to sign in the summer.

Richard Hughes will likely be looking for both a left-back and a right-back in the upcoming window. It's extremely possible that Andy Robertson will leave the club on a free after his contract expires.

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Kostas Tsimikas is unlikely to stay at Roma but he's also unlikely to remain at Anfield. If both Robertson and Tsimikas leave, that would see Milos Kerkez being Liverpool's only recognised left-back.

So, cover will have to be assigned in that area. Unless, Arne Slot will back one of Owen Beck, Luke Chambers or Calum Scanlon to step-up from the academy.

Meanwhile, at right-back, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are both injury prone. The latter might not even be back by the start of the season. The former may not even be considered a right-back first and foremost by Slot.

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So, Liverpool need full-backs, and if that's what they are in the market for, there is one obvious solution.

We all know Hughes loves shopping in the Serie A. The club's sporting director spent years playing football in Italy. He signed Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni from there, and last summer he almost signed another Italian.

According to Calciomercato, Liverpool wanted to sign Marco Palestra.

The site claims the Reds tried to sign him in the summer and made a €20m offer that was rejected by Atalanta who wanted to loan him to Cagliari instead.

The report from the site claimed that Palestra is still of interest to Liverpool, and it's no surprise.

He's been one of the best left-backs in the Serie A this season. Only 20-years-old, he ranks in the 89th percentile among full-backs for assists per 90 minutes (0.21) and is showing he can be a real threat going forward, which is what Liverpool are missing.

A high intensity player, Palestra is also composed on the ball and he could bring those Trent esque long passes, attempting over four long passes per game, which is high for a full-back.

His biggest strength though is his ball carrying and his ability to surge forward.

He's in the 96th percentile for progressive carriers (3.76 per 90 minutes) and for successful take-ons (4.31 per 90 minutes).

Palestra is a very complete player but the reason why he's the one player Liverpool absolutely have to sign above anyone else is the fact that he can play both the right-back and the left-back position.

The youngster is actually comfortable with both feet. He's played in both sides of the pitch as well, and that would make him an incredibly valuable addition because he is an absolute unicorn.

How many full-backs are there in world football who play in Europe's top five leagues and are capable of playing on both flanks?

There aren't many. A player like Palestra is rare and when you find a gem like that, you have to pounce.

Having him be both capable of being Liverpool's first-choice right-back or at least provide competition for Frimpong or Bradley, while also being cover for Kerkez is a dream scenario.

He fixes not just one but two of Liverpool's biggest problems. That's why he's the only player Liverpool have to sign at all costs.

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