It’s fair to say that it has been an incredibly disappointing season for Liverpool so far. They’re way off the pace in the title race and very much out of it. And they may not even make the top four. A problem area for Jurgen Klopp is in the middle of the park, where he has ageing players or others not up to it. So, this summer, spending on central midfielders such as the ones below is a must.
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham, who left his hometown club Birmingham City for German giants Borussia Dortmund, is the player linked with a switch to Anfield the most right now. He’s come on leaps and bounds since swapping Birmingham for Dortmund and is already one of world football’s hottest properties. At nineteen years old, bringing Bellingham back to England would be a fantastic investment, and he would add much-needed energy to a tired Reds midfield.
Declan Rice
Like Bellingham, Declan Rice is another top-level English midfielder who is thought to be on the move this summer as West Ham’s talisman looks to test himself at an even higher level. Rice, 24, is a natural leader and can play in defence as well as midfield. If Liverpool were really to back Jurgen Klopp this summer and brought him both Bellingham and Rice, it’d prove to be an excellent move as they know each other from representing England, so there’s already that connection there. And Rice would be a natural replacement for Fabinho, screening in front of the backline to add some much-needed protection.
James Ward-Prowse
It remains to be seen how much the Liverpool hierarchy will be willing to spend this summer, but Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is a top-quality player who won’t break the bank. Ward-Prowse, who was unlucky to miss out on the England World Cup squad, is currently battling relegation with the Saints, who are one of the favourites to drop to the Championship, according to bwin, one of the most respected sports betting operators in the business. And, if the worst does happen, the dead ball specialist could be available in a cut-price deal. If Rice is a good fit to replace Fabinho, Ward-Prowse certainly has elements to his game and mentality similar to current Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson.
Moises Caicedo
Brighton midfielder Moses Caicedo made no secret of his desire to join Arsenal in the recent transfer window, going public on Twitter. However, the move failed to materialise, and the twenty-one-year-old is still with the Seagulls. After Arsenal signed Chelsea’s Jorginho, their need for Caicedo, who is great at breaking up play in the middle of the park, may have lessened. So, the door could well be open for other Premier League clubs to take a keen interest in the Ecuadorian. The only drawback is that he would cost a lot of money, with Brighton experts at getting precisely what they’re looking for when dealing with buying clubs.
