Three links and two surprises

Liverpool football chief Damien Comolli's position is apparently coming under intense scrutiny.

The Daily Mail says, when Kenny Dalglish is confirmed as the permanent Liverpool manager, insiders are standing by for a power battle with director of football strategy Comolli. Dalglish has an old-school managerial attitude of liking to be in sole command, the paper claims.

So how he copes with Comolli will be an intriguing sub-plot, especially as Dalglish has expert knowledge himself of European football.

With, or without him, the club will be looking for reinforcement this summer, and these might be some of them...

Liverpool's search for young British talent has seen them monitor Preston North End's Adam Barton, reports the Daily Mail.

The 20-year-old is currently plying his trade at the foot of the Championship but his displays have attracted the attentions of scouts from Anfield. The Merseysiders have watched him several times this season in his attempts to stave off relegation for the Lancashire club and are mulling over a summer move for the player.

Barton, a Blackburn-born Northern Ireland international, could be set to become the next youthful addition to the squad as manager Kenny Dalglish looks to bolster his midfield options.

He is valued at £2.5m.

The Mail also reports that Liverpool are weighing up a summer bid for Barcelona forward Ibrahim Afelay, according to reports in Spain.

Affelay joined the Catalan giants from PSV for a cut-price £1.85m in January after the Dutch side faced up to losing Affelay on a free transfer in June, but he has struggled to make an impact at the Nou Camp.

And Liverpool have emerged as front-runners to sign the 24-year-old Holland international, with the Reds said to be preparing a £8.5m bid, according to Spanish daily AS.

Liverpool are weighing up a move for Lyon's Michel Bastos.

Manager Kenny Dalglish's priority in the transfer market is acquiring a left back with the position becoming something of a problem for the Merseyside club.

Emiliano Insua was shipped out last summer after failing to find any consistency while Paul Konchesky's six months at Anfield was an unmitigated disaster and he was eventually loaned out to Championship promotion hopefuls, Nottingham Forest. Glen Johnson has been filling in admirably despite ostensibly being a right back and a specialist is wanted to patrol that area effectively.

Several names have been mentioned but one that is slowly rising to the top of the list is Bastos, Sportingo reports.

The 27-year-old has impressed French observers since arriving in Ligue 1 in 2006 where he became a fixture for Lille, scoring and setting up goals from left back. An €18m move to Lyon in 2009 has given him the chance to showcase his talents to a Europe-wide audience in the Champions League and his displays have caught the eye of many.

The most surprising report the last days is one of John Arne Riise, that might move back to Merseyside.

It seems that 30 year old defender John Arne Riise could move back to Liverpool at the end of the season, though the Norwegian international seems attracted by the idea to end his career in the U.S. Footballpress.net reports.

And - by the way - could this be our next away shirt?