Liverpool will turn to France's next major star Mamadou Sakho if their campaign to land Gary Cahill ends in failure.
Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish has earmarked the Bolton and England centre half as a major priority when he is given funds in the summer.
But the Reds manager is painfully aware that Wanderers are determined to hold out until the bidding reaches £20million.
And with moneybags Manchester City also in the race, Dalglish has wisely lined up a back-up, with 21-year-old Sakho his preferred choice.
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The Paris St Germain defender has already made a massive impact in France after winning his first full cap in the recent victory over England.
Sakho is doubly attractive because he can also play left back as well as centre half, and would cost only half the fee Cahill is likely to command.
Dalglish has other targets, with Aston Villa's Ashley Young, Charlie Adam of Blackpool and Ipswich wonderboy Connor Wickham, who only turned 18 last week, on his list.
The Liverpool boss wants to concentrate on exciting young stars, after presiding over a massive improvement in the youth structure at Anfield since he returned to the club 18 months ago.
King Kenny gave teenager John Flanagan his debut against City on Monday night, and wasn't disappointed as the defender turned in an immaculate performance.
And his display was further proof of the giant strides made with young players coming through the ranks in the past 12 months.
Dalglish originally returned to the club as an ambassador with special responsibility for academy recruitment, and he has maintained that interest by promoting several kids into his first team squad.
Liverpool have seriously failed to develop young, local talent in the past decade, since Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher burst onto the scene at the end of the 1990s.
Yet this season Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly have already established themselves, along with Jonjo Shelvey and now Flanagan knocking at the door.
Other exciting young stars such as Conor Coady, Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Raheem Sterling and 16 year old goalscoring sensation Adam Morgan all seem to have a big future at Anfield, and Dalglish wants to ensure that happens by continuing to identify the best young talent.
Flanagan showed enough in 90 minutes against England winger James Milner to suggest he can make the grade, and previous academy graduate Carragher believes it is a massive boost for the future of the club.
"I'm delighted for John and I think it gives the whole club a lift when you see a local lad come through - the supporters love it," he said.
"I think at the Academy it gives all of them a lift. The young lads at the Academy, it shows them it can be done.
"There's a bit of competition now between him and Kelly for the local lads. It's great for everyone really that you've got two local lads like that coming through.
"To be honest there's a few more down there so it's up to them lads to take their chance. Flanno's done that, but I'm pretty confident that there are more down there."
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