Liverpool have had to make do with Roberto Firmino as their only recognised number nine again this season, and although Diogo Jota can perform excellently in that position, he can't lead the line in the way a true number nine can.
The Reds might have had another weapon in their arsenal this campaign if their interest in Ajax wonderkid Brian Brobbey had materalised.
The young Dutchman earned rave reviews for his performances with Jong Ajax before eventually making his way into the first team squad.
He would, however, jump ship to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021.
So, what kind of player have Liverpool missed out on, and could he move again soon?
What position does Brobbey play in?
Brobbey plays as a centre-forward.
How good is Brobbey?
You usually have to be a pretty special talent to attract the interest of RB Leipzig and in the case of Netherlands U21 international Brobbey that certainly seems to be the case.
Prior to announcing his move to the Bundesliga side, Brobbey made his name in Dutch football as a remarkable goal-scoring talent for both the Holland and Ajax youth sides.
For Ajax’s youth teams Brobbey amassed an incredible 79 goals in just 67 games and, similarly, he’s got an equally impressive record for his country, with 16 goals in 24 appearances for Holland’s Under-17 side.
Having come through the famed Ajax academy, Brobbey is blessed with technical ability on the ball which means he is comfortable dribbling with the ball at speed as well as keeping it in tight areas.
These talents are complemented by superb athleticism as he possesses great pace, power, and a might jump for headers.
Overall, he is a big presence up top both in terms of his play and also his physicality.
Ajax coach John Heitinga told De Telegraaf of Brobbey: "At 16 he weighed 91 kilos - he measures 1.80 meters - and was the fastest in the Academy. He covered 30 meters in 3.7 seconds.
"With one leg he jumped more than Cristiano Ronaldo."
What clubs are interested in Brobbey?
It proved to be a fairly acrimonious departure from Ajax for Brobbey, with sporting director Marc Overmars saying last season:
“I am devastated," he told De Telegraaf.
“Because we had a really good sporting plan with him, as we did earlier with Ryan Gravenberch.”
Prior to RB Leipzig confirming their swoop for Brobbey, Liverpool were extremely interested in signing him as a free agent in 2021.
In the end, the German outfit allegedly won the race for his signature with the promise of more first team football.
Liverpool have done recent business with Leipzig via the transfers of Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate, however, so it is not outwith the realms of possibility that a future move to Anfield may happen.
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain were also credited with interest last season.
Most recently, though, a return to Ajax has been mentioned, with Eric ten Hag telling De Telegraaf:
“I'm happy with this selection, but if we can strengthen our squad, we will... It must be the right choice, not just to supplement the selection. It must strengthen us. An advantage of Brian Brobbey would be that he is immediately deployable, yes."
When does Brobbey's contract expire?
Brobbey's contract with RB Leipzig lasts until 2025.
How old is Brobbey?
Brobbey was born 1 February 2002. He is 19.
What is Brobbey's height?
Brobbey is 180cm, or 5ft 9in.
What is Brobbey's weight?
Brobbey weighs around 70 kilograms, or 11 stone.
What football boots does Brobbey wear?
Brobbey wears Nike Phantom GT Elite 2 soccer cleats.
What is Brobbey's Instagram?
Brobbey's Instagram has 177k followers as of October 2021.
Who is Brobbey's girlfriend?
Brobbey is not currently seeing anyone publicly.