With 48 teams at the World Cup, there is plenty for Reds to get their teeth into, including watching several players linked to Liverpool.
Kicking off on June 11, the World Cup is set to take over for the next month as the best players head to Mexico, Canada and the USA for the 23rd edition of the tournament.
This will be the first time that 48 teams have featured in the finals, giving fans the chance to watch more unknown entities they may not see on a regular basis.
Liverpool supporters may want to keep an eye on these seven players who have been rumoured to be of interest in the transfer market.
Yan Diomande – Cote d’Ivoire
3DDK707 Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
• Age: 19
• Club: RB Leipzig
• Position: Right-Wing
• 2025/26 Goals / Assists: 13 / 10
Yan Diomande’s name has already been strongly linked with Liverpool, and the battle for his signature could be one of the off-field sagas of the summer.
Paris Saint-Germain also interested, but the Reds are “in the strongest position with the player over a potential deal,” according to the Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
Having enjoyed a breakout campaign at RB Leipzig, his club are demanding £112 million to even consider a sale – and if he has a good World Cup, they could get it!
Cote d'Ivoire Group E fixtures
vs. Ecuador
Philadelphia | June 15, 12am (BST) | BBC 1
vs. Germany
Toronto | June 20, 9pm | ITV 1
vs. Curacao
Philadelphia | June 25, 9pm | BBC 2
Bazoumana Toure – Cote d’Ivoire
• Age: 20
• Club: Hoffenheim
• Position: Left-Wing
• 2025/26 Goals / Assists: 5 / 12
On the other flank for the Cote d’Ivoire, we could see fellow Liverpool-linked Bundesliga winger Bazoumana Toure.
He hasn’t quite shone to the same extent as Diomande, but he did score five goals, set up his teammates for 12 and was a key part of Hoffenheim fifth-place finish.
Sky Germany reported that the Reds ‘expressed interest’, but he is contracted until 2029 without a release clause.
With a slightly more raw, direct style of dribbling than Diomande, Toure’s main competition for a starting spot should be Man United‘s Amad Diallo.
Luis Suarez – Colombia
• Age: 28
• Club: Sporting
• Position: Striker
• 2025/26 Goals / Assists: 38 / 9
OK, so this transfer isn’t particularly likely to happen, but the Colombian Luis Suarez could be an exciting player to keep tabs on.
Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha reported at the end of March that Liverpool and Newcastle were preparing to go head-to-head to sign Suarez, with ‘intense interest’ shown.
The centre-forward won’t reach the levels his namesake achieved, but he has been prolific in Portugal this season, scoring 38 times for Sporting as they came second, six points behind Porto.
Colombia Group K fixtures
vs. Uzbekistan
Mexico City | June 18, 3am (BST) | BBC 1
vs. DR Congo
Guadalajara | June 24, 3am | ITV 1
vs. Portugal
Miami | June 28, 12:30am | BBC 1
Micky van de Ven – Netherlands
2K32W4A LEUVEN, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 23: Micky van de Ven of Netherlands U21 prior to the Friendly Game match between Belgium U21 and Netherlands U21 at the King Power At Den Dreef Stadion on September 23, 2022 in Leuven, Belgium (Photo by Joris Verwijst/Orange Pictures)
• Age: 25
• Club: Tottenham
• Position: Centre-Back
• 2025/26 Apps / Goals: 45 / 7
The jury is still out on how good Micky van de Ven is. He undoubtedly has talent and is excellent on the ball, but he was as guilty as any of his teammates for Tottenham‘s dismal campaign.
He does have serious speed, though, which could be of interest to Andoni Iraola who needs his centre-backs to cover lots of ground in wide areas.
The Mail‘s Matt Barlow claimed in January that Liverpool held a “keen interest” in the defender, but Dominic King has since dismissed a transfer, saying that he ‘doesn’t believe the Reds are in for him’.
Van de Ven should line up at left-back alongside Virgil van Dijk in Ronald Koeman’s defence.
Netherlands Group F fixtures
vs. Japan
Dallas | June 14, 9pm (BST) | ITV 1
vs. Sweden
Houston | June 20, 6pm | ITV 1
vs. Tunisia
Kansas City | June 26, 12am | BBC 1
Jan Paul van Hecke – Netherlands
BRIGHTON & HOVE, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 8, 2023: Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke during the FA Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Liverpool FC at the American Express Community Stadium. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• Age: 26
• Club: Brighton
• Position: Centre-Back
• 2025/26 Apps / Goals: 40 / 3
Van de Ven will be at left-back because Jan Paul van Hecke is to partner Van Dijk in the heart of defence.
The centre-half, who has already been the subject of two bids from Tottenham this summer, is reportedly commanding an asking price of £70m.
The reason for the fee has been Van Hecke’s performances for Brighton over the last three years.
FotMob tells us that this season, he won 5.86 duels per 90 minutes in the Premier League, placing him in the top 20 percent of his peers.
A move feels less likely now Arne Slot has left Liverpool, as Dutch journalist Joost Blaauwhof noted that contact was made before [Slot’s] dismissal.”
Crysencio Summerville – Netherlands
West Ham United’s Crysencio Summerville celebrates (Jordan Pettiitt/PA)
• Age: 24
• Club: West Ham
• Position: Left-Wing
• 2025/26 Goals / Assists: 7 / 5
Yet another reason to watch the Dutch is Crysencio Summerville; the West Ham winger is set to start on the right in their opening match against Japan.
Signing Summerville wouldn’t exactly be a marquee move, but he could provide a threat for a relatively low price, with West Ham needing to recoup money from sales after relegation.
He was ranked in the top 20 percent of Premier League wingers for successful dribbles this season and netted seven times for a struggling side.
Bradley Barcola – France
Bradley Barcola PSG vs. Liverpool Champions League 2025 (Martin Rickett/PA)
• Age: 23
• Club: PSG
• Position: Left-Wing
• 2025/26 Goals / Assists: 13 / 7
Liverpool have widely been cited as holding an interest in Bradley Barcola, who has just come off the back of winning another Champions League title.
He didn’t start for PSG in the final, but he did make an impact when called upon with his lightning speed and quick feet.
Due to already having Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in his left-wing position, Barcola could look elsewhere for more regular game time, but the mooted fee is not far off what Diomande is priced at.
Reports in France suggest he would cost over £85m, a lot for a player who has two years left on his contract.
France Group I fixtures
vs. Senegal
New Jersey, New York | June 16, 8pm (BST) | BBC 1
vs. Iraq
Philadelphia | June 22, 10pm | BBC 1
vs. Norway
Boston | June 26, 8pm | ITV 1
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