The Reds are anticipated to add at least another midfielder this summer after signing Alexis MacAllister.
Liverpool will prioritize bringing in a “physical” midfielder this summer as Jurgen Klopp’s team look to recover from a disappointing campaign.
Liverpool are anticipated to bolster their midfield ranks even more during the transfer window after already signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton earlier this summer for an initial fee of about £35m.
Klopp has given his engine room top priority after a challenging season in which the midfield was largely blamed for the team’s performance. The addition of Mac Allister and the salary savings brought about by the departures of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner are positive steps, but more must be done if the Reds are to climb back to the top of the league.
Fabrizio Romano thinks Liverpool will concentrate on a more powerful, “physical” midfielder after the signing of a more imaginative playmaker in Mac Allister because they have already been linked with a number of new names this transfer window.
Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano stated: “So, I think from what I’m told, Liverpool will give priority to a physical midfielder after signing a creative midfielder in Alexis Mac Allister. Consequently, the plan is to go with a strong midfielder right now.”
“Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram are still on the list; these two names are for sure.”
He continued: “Liverpool will investigate additional options, for instance, they value Barella but are well aware that he is very content at Inter and that it will be challenging to sign him. It is a very complicated situation because his contract does not contain a release clause.”
Given Klopp’s desire to play high-intensity, counter-pressing football, which necessitates a more combative and organized central midfield, a more physical midfielder makes sense.
The Reds appear to be focusing their attention on Nice’s Thuram out of the players Romano mentioned. Le Parisien reported that a fee of just over £50 million would be necessary to complete a deal for the 22-year-old, and journalist David Lynch even claimed that an agreement is anticipated to be reached between the two clubs for the player.
Manu Kone, who is Thuram’s teammate for France at the U21 European Championship, has been linked with the Reds, but Florian Plettenberg has said that a move for the Borussia Monchengladbach player is “very unlikely”.
Nicolo Barella appears to be out of reach for Liverpool right now due to his high asking price, but some Italian sources have claimed Inter may make a bid for him. The 26-year-old is expected to cost just under £70 million, making him Liverpool’s most expensive midfield acquisition in club history.
Gabri Veiga, a sensation for Celta Vigo who has had a tremendous La Liga season, has also been mentioned as a potential midfielder. Although the youngster’s £34 million release clause makes him an even more alluring prospect, he is a more technical player than other candidates on Liverpool’s shortlist.
