Liverpool has perfect opportunity to scout Brighton star who is also on Arsenal's transfer radar

Liverpool is about to become very well-acquainted with Brighton as it gears up for two games in the space of four days. As well as being another test for Arne Slot, it could also be a scouting opportunity.

In truth, any game against Brighton is a good time to keep a close eye on any standout gems from the opposing side. The Seagulls have become renowned for sourcing top talent from around the globe, with Liverpool already having benefited once by signing Alexis Mac Allister.

But Slot might be keeping a particular eye on one specific player. Liverpool and Arsenal have supposedly been tracking him, and if he doesn't feature tonight, then there's a very good chance he lines up at Anfield.

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Despite its well-earned recruitment reputation, eyebrows were raised when Brighton signed Carlos Baleba last summer. It splashed out $29m (£23m/€27m) on the Lille midfielder, who at the time had barely 500 minutes of senior football to his name in Ligue 1.

The Cameroonian took a little while to get going in the Premier League, prompting further doubts. But still only 20, he has already begun to come good on that transfer fee, drawing admiring looks from elsewhere in the division.

According to talkSPORT, Baleba is a "long-standing" target for both Liverpool and Arsenal. Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou at Spurs is also a keen admirer.

Baleba has been a regular in the side so far under Fabian Hurzeler. With James Milner still sidelined (16 appearances short of Gareth Barry's record), there's a reasonable chance that he features in some capacity in both upcoming matches against Slot's Liverpool.

The midfield is not an area of immediate concern for Liverpool. But with Baleba a natural in the holding role, and of the ball-playing ilk that Slot admires, it will be fascinating to see him come up against Ryan Gravenberch.

The Dutchman's reinvention looked at first to be a bit of a makeshift solution, after a move for Martin Zubimendi fell through. But he has arguably been Liverpool's best player so far this season, and has certainly been the most surprising.

Whether or not Liverpool still needs to recruit a specialist number six is therefore somewhat up in the air. A direct match-up between Gravenberch and Baleba could be instructive in that regard.

It remains to be seen if we will be treated to that head-to-head in tonight's Carabao Cup clash. Both coaches could be minded to rotate, with Slot yet to hand many minutes to Wataru Endo or Tyler Morton.

But sooner or later, Slot will get a close-up look at this apparent target. It could help to shape the direction of his transfer plans in January and beyond.

Liverpool.com says: So far, Slot has been more or less vindicated in his belief that the Liverpool squad was already in good shape to compete without any major summer additions. But he is bound to dip into the market at some point.

Gravenberch's form means that a midfielder might not be next on the shopping list. But if nothing else, greater depth in the holding role would be welcome, with Endo not really fitting into Slot's blueprint.

Baleba is showing all the signs of being another hit for Brighton. He's one to watch closely over the next couple of games.