In short
For expired domains, the quality and origin of the backlinks matters, not the mere count. A link profile from on-topic, trustworthy sources is valuable; many links from spam or foreign-language sources can even harm. A backlink value should therefore always be assessed, not just counted.
What makes a good link profile
- Topically relevant, trustworthy referring domains.
- Natural anchor texts and distribution.
- A fitting country/language reference for the planned project.
Warning signs
- Many links from spam networks or unrelated topics/languages.
- Sudden, unnatural link spikes in the past.
- Signs of earlier penalties.
Assessment instead of counting
Some services give a qualitative backlink value (low/medium/high) instead of an exact number. What matters is the substantive check — see vet and risks.