Rayan Ait-Nouri and Anthony Gordon could unlock a magical left-flank combination for Liverpool if they sign for the club this summer.

The Reds are thought to be keen on the pair, which could allow a pacey partnership to develop given both are willing runners who could expose any full-back when performing well.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have no desire to sell Ait-Nouri, who arrived from French outfit Angers three seasons ago, though. The sale of fellow defender Max Kilman, with Wolves bringing in a PS40m fee from West Ham United, means the Molineux side do not need to sell the Algerian. Kilman's sale will help Gary O'Neil's side to comply with FFP measures but there is a rumours release clause in Ait-Nouri's contract with Wolves.

The 23-year-old is a defender by trade but can also fill in on the left side of midfield if needed. He has featured 98 times for Wolves in the Premier League scoring five times - one of which came at Everton's Goodison Park - with four assists. He turned out for France at youth level but chose to represent Algeria amassing 13 caps to date.

Wolves boss O'Neil praised his player in March, saying: "It's very important being able to use him in a few different positions out of necessity...he could roll inside and play in midfield from left back, he played as a 10.

"He's a great lad. He's come on professionalism-wise and asks loads of questions now."

His marauding runs and endless energy could provide a key partnership with Domink Szoboszlai, whose impressive range of passing will allow the potential recruit to run in behind sleeping full-backs and give the Reds free reign on opposition backlines.

Of course, Andrew Robertson will be more than confident he can fend off any threat to his starting spot, but throughout a season and the four competitions Liverpool are in, different combinations will be vital to the success of Arne Slot's first season in charge.

Anthony Gordon has also been heavily linked with Slot's side but a deal may be more viable once he returns from England's UEFA Euro 2024 campaign. Gordon, also 23, is blessed with blistering pace and could prove pivotal alongside Ait-Nouri when transitioning from defence to attack, allowing Liverpool to break at speed.

Gordon is a traditional winger, a throwback in many ways, who he drives at defenders with confidence and tends to stay wide rather than cut inside like many modern forwards. He would compete with both Luis Diaz - who regularly started on Liverpool's left in recent years - and Cody Gakpo - who has favoured playing on the left in the Netherlands' UEFA Euro 2024 campaign - scoring three times in the tournament.

The transfer window will rumble on over the summer with pre-season friendlies against Real Betis, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Sevilla painting a clearer picture of Slot's style of play and tactics.