Suffering from the lack of a No. 6 has been a recurrent theme for Liverpool. And henceforth, it has been the topic of the summer transfer market again this year. Numerous names have floated already, yet only a few credible links were established.
A new news has emerged that Liverpool are searching for a defensive midfielder from outside the Premier League now. This recent piece of news is revealed by none other than the reputable David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Porto’s Alan Varela and Atalanta’s Ederson have been suspected as the top targets for Liverpool. While the loosely linked Joao Gomes of Wolves appears to be out of contention due to his Premier League affiliation. The scarcity of concrete leads has sent the fans and journalists into guessing the identity of the elusive midfield anchor.
A New Signing for Liverpool: What Does The Master Say?
From Slot’s tactics in Liverpool’s pre-season friendly, it has been evident that his philosophy does not rely solely on a traditional ball-winning No. 6. Instead, the deepest midfielder in Slot’s fluid midfield setup is expected to contribute significantly to build-up play and maintain possession.
This nuanced role requires a player with a blend of defensive acumen and ball-handling skills, further complicating the search for an ideal candidate. In the USA, Slot experimented with Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch in the holding midfield position.
Of the trio, Gravenberch’s performance against Manchester United drew particular praise. The Dutch said,
“Ryan did really well in that position [against United] and we have other options as well.
The best way to judge it is when we have all the players back and we still haven’t, but a club like Liverpool always keeps its eye open to see what’s available.”
The intricacies of securing a high-calibre signing are not lost on Slot.
“The bar is really high for new signings because we have so many good players.
It is not so easy to first find a player to meet those standards and then ask, ‘is he available?’.
Then we have to find an agreement with them, so it is not always easy to find a player who can help us but Richard is working hard on it and let’s see what comes from this.”
The challenge lies not only in identifying a player who meets Liverpool’s rigorous standards but also in negotiating a feasible transfer.
Thus far, the club’s summer business has been limited to loaning out two players. As Liverpool return to Merseyside, the transfer activity is expected to intensify.
Also Read:
- Growing Interest In Liverpool’s Talented 21-Year-Old: Will The Youngster Leave Liverpool This Summer?
- Are Reds Looking For Alisson’s Replacement?
- Manchester City Sign Chelsea Wonderkid Amidst Interest From Arsenal And Liverpool!
- Slot Believes There Is Still Room For Improvement Regardless Of Pre-season Success!
- Liverpool Eyes Sensational Anthony Gordon Swap Deal Worth £60m to Boost Squad