Liverpool are one of three clubs that Spanish outlet Diario Gol is claiming has a chance of signing Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos after suggestions that Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is less than happy with the defender's performances this season.
Ramos only signed a bumper new contract after taking Manchester United for a ride last summer. It was at that point he was also handed the captaincy following Iker Casillas' exit to Porto.
The accusation appears to be that Perez and Real feel Ramos has relaxed since landing his new deal.
It remains to be seen if there is any truth to the wild speculation - Diario Gol has been the source of several other rather questionable claims over the last few months - and Liverpool would at least face incredibly strong competition from genuine European heavyweights.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain are alleged to have already made contact, especially with uncertain futures for Thiago Silva, linked with a return to Milan recently, and Marquinhos, who is regularly mentioned in the same breath as a number of interested clubs.
It is said that PSG coach Unai Emery, who like Ramos has ties to Sevilla, supports the approach.
The other is Bayern Munich, who could hope to lean on the positive existing relationship between Ramos and newly installed head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian was a big fan of the player while in charge at Real from 2013 to 2015, even comparing him to Paolo Maldini and trusting him to play in a number of different positions.
For Liverpool, what Ramos would bring is experience to a defensive unit that has remained a significant problem for far too long.
The Reds may have the edge over moneyed clubs from the Chinese Super League, who Ramos is said not to have given any consideration to, but certainly convincing him to move to Anfield over Paris or Munich seems highlyimprobable to say the least.