As Liverpool confirms World Cup plans, Jürgen Klopp may conduct a double transfer scouting mission.

For the next five weeks, the Premier League will be placed on pause as the World Cup takes place in Qatar. The Liverpool players who aren’t competing in the tournament will benefit from a period of rest before linking up with their teammates in the Middle East.

Jürgen Klopp has arranged a warm-weather training camp for December, during which time the Reds will take part in a friendly tournament. The Dubai Super Cup will consist of Liverpool, Arsenal, AC Milan, and Lyon, although the two English sides won’t play each other.

The matches have been arranged to allow players to get up to speed ahead of the Premier League restart after Christmas, but Klopp could use the competition to scout for potential talents too, with the next transfer window just around the corner.

Upon inspection of the players at Milan and Lyon, who might grab the attention of the German?

Ismaël Bennacer

If there’s one department Liverpool needs to improve using the transfer market, it is midfield. The Reds decided against sourcing an alternative option to Aurélien Tchouaméni in the summer after the Frenchman chose Real Madrid, and that decision has delivered problems.

Still just 24 years old, Ismaël Bennacer is one of the most talented members of Stefano Pioli’s squad in Milan. He is technical, difficult to dispossess, and progressive when in possession of the ball.

The Algerian doesn’t quite possess the same degree of physicality as Tchouaméni or some other Anfield options — standing under 5″9 — but he offers different perks, dribbling more often than the typical central midfielder while also getting stuck in when defending.

Maxence Caqueret

The France squad is packed full of elite quality from back to front, with Didier Deschamps presented with an embarrassment of riches to choose from ahead of the World Cup.

Those who didn’t get called up have nothing to be ashamed of, with Maxence Caqueret fitting that bill. Much like Bennacer, he is slight in frame and stands the same height, but his technical ability and intelligence allow him to remain competitive against bigger opponents.

The Lyon midfielder is another who dribbles in the middle of the park and likes to play forward whenever possible, but he’s a real competitor against the ball. Still just 22 years old, he’s got plenty of time to continue evolving.

Rafael Leão

Rafael Leão is more of a wildcard inclusion, simply because unlike other names, he’s set to compete for Portugal at the World Cup, having been called up by Fernando Santos. If his national side goes far, he’ll miss the friendlies with Liverpool.

Nevertheless, the Milan talisman has six goals and four assists to his name in Serie A this term. Last season, he posted double figures in both departments, resulting in his name being linked to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

Leão possesses notable physical strengths considering he’s quick and stands around 6″2, and he’s a good age at 23. His preferred role is on the left of his team’s attack, which doesn’t bode well for a potential move to Merseyside given Luis Díaz tends to play there, but his versatility suggests nothing should be ruled out.

Houssem Aouar feels like he’s been on the scene forever, but he’s still just 24 years old and remains contracted to Lyon. Having been linked with a move to the Reds and Arsenal in the past, it is relatively surprising that he’s still in France.

A versatile offensive midfielder, Aouar isn’t too dissimilar to Harvey Elliott in many ways, with both of those players inclined to provide a subtle link between their team’s midfield and attack. The duo is tricky, good in tight spaces, and incisive on the ball.

It remains to be seen whether Klopp needs another player like the Frenchman at the moment given the presence of Elliott and Fábio Carvalho in his squad, although Roberto Firmino’s future remains uncertain; his contract is due to expire next summer, as is Aouar’s at Lyon.