Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson has played down talk of a potential move to Liverpool as just a "story in the paper" amid links with a switch to Anfield this summer.
Despite arguably reaching champions-elect status as they sit 15 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool are gearing up for a busy window of buying and selling.
The left-back area is apparently one that has been identified as a position for improvement, as the long-serving Andy Robertson has suffered a noticeable physical and technical decline in the 2024-25 season.
The Scotsman's perpetual understudy, Kostas Tsimikas, has not done enough to permanently usurp his superior either, leading to the expectation that a new left-back option will arrive ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
USA international Robinson is understood to be one of those on the shortlist, having excelled on the playmaking front for the Cottagers this season with 10 assists from 28 Premier League appearances.
Only Mohamed Salah (17) has set up more goals than Robinson in the ongoing top-flight season, and the 27-year-old name-checked Liverpool when recently questioned by ESPN about links with a summer transfer.
Robinson: 'Take Liverpool rumours with a pinch of salt'
However, he implored fans to take such speculation with a pinch of salt and expressed a desire to get into Europe with his current club, saying: "I've been in the game long enough now to kind of know you have to block out the outside noise and things like that because I've been on the end of it when I've not been playing well.
"I saw criticism when I was younger, seeing people doubting me and things. So I know that there's two sides to the coin. You just have to take everything with a grain of salt. You have to believe in yourself and when things are going bad, focus on yourself, and when things are going good, focus on keeping going.
"So, transfer rumours and stuff like that, I try not to look at. Especially like with the Liverpool one, all my friends and family are from Liverpool, so it's more of them messaging me than me seeing newspaper stuff. And I have to say, look, it's just, just a story in the paper and anyone who's doing well is going to get linked to a team.
"I'm truly focused on just reaching the level I feel I can, which takes a lot of work off the pitch as well, trying to make sure I keep my body right, doing all the extras and training, things like that to make sure I'm on my best level.
"Eventually I want to perform at the highest level that I can. Whether that's playing Champions League, playing European competitions with Fulham, however I get there, I want to make sure I get there."
Robinson still has a little over three years to run on his contract at Fulham, whom he has registered three goals and 21 assists for in 180 appearances since joining from Wigan Athletic in a £1.8m deal in 2020.
Which other left-backs can Liverpool target?
Robinson did not directly shut the door on a summer switch to Anfield, but should the former Latics defender prove unattainable, Liverpool are thought to have their eyes on some other Premier League targets.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri and Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez have been strongly linked with a switch to the Reds, although the former has played predominantly as a wing-back as opposed to an out-and-out full-back.
Slot is understood to have given the thumbs-up to the prospective arrival of Kerkez, while a separate report has claimed that they have reservations about moving for Robinson this summer. body check tags ::
