So, if not these two people, then who would it be?
What if the answer lies in the players Liverpool have already signed? 22-year-old Luka Stephenson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2018 and has been dubbed the next Jordan Henderson.
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Stephenson hasn’t quite lived up to those comparisons so far, but his performances on loan and at academy level have been solid.
Normally a midfielder, he has transitioned to right-back and full-back during his loan spell at Dundee United.
He has been in excellent form this season, contributing seven goals in the Scottish Premiership and has stood out for his ability to consistently win confrontations and continue to contribute.
Stephenson was recently awarded Dundee United’s Player of the Month for January and the fans seemed very pleased with his performance.
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His performances this season have been impressive and remind us of another current Liverpool player who has left his mark at the same club.
Andy Robertson caught the attention at Dundee United in the 2013/14 season before earning promotion to the Premier League with Hull City and eventually joining Liverpool.
Stephenson was a bit older than Robertson at the time and would have had to skip a step to Hull City. However, given his stellar pre-season performances with Liverpool’s first team last summer, he could easily become the Reds’ next right-back.
Slott appears to be a big fan, and addressing the right guard situation internally may also be preferable for Hughes given possible budget constraints.
Few would have imagined this scenario when signing him from Sunderland all those years ago. But now, the Reds just have to be patient.