As we head towards the end of yet another campaign, Liverpool are on the hunt for a possible Quadruple, after claiming their first trophy of the season back in February.
However, despite Liverpool’s success, the Reds may look to make additions to the squad come the summer transfer window, with the most likely incoming being in the midfield.
Some players may have their future at the club in doubt, and adding an extra player into that position gives them an extra key player to their squad.
There are plenty of midfielders across World football who can make an impact in that position for the Reds, whilst also fitting the Liverpool system. Here is a look at just a few midfielders that would be interesting to see in the current Liverpool setup.
Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund
He moved to Germany two years ago, and he’s had plenty of praise for the job he’s done so far at Dortmund.
He’s been labeled ‘The Next Gerrard’ by many people who watch him weekly, and the comparison is due to Bellingham’s ability to have an impact across the midfield.
The amount of game time he’s had at both Birmingham City and Dortmund has meant the English International has a maturity to his game, which links in with his positional awareness in the midfield. Whether that’s in defensive duties or on the front foot.
This can be a key part of someone’s game at such a young age, and that makes him an attractive signing for the Merseyside club.
So far this season, Bellingham has three goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga, showing the impact he can have from a deeper position on the pitch.
One of the major elements of his game is his technical dribbling. He’s able to create space for himself and his teammates with some tricky footwork. Combining that with his work ethic makes him similar to someone like Naby Keita in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
It’s obvious that Bellingham is one of the best Box-to-Box midfielders in the world right now, and will be for some years, however, a transfer to Liverpool would come with a significant transfer price.
Aurelien Tchouameni – AS Monaco
The Frenchman has played a pivotal role in the Monaco team over the last two seasons, showcasing his talents on a regular basis.
Tchouameni has taken up a slightly more defensive role for Monaco on more than one occasion, but he can also deliver as a number eight.
He’s well known for his physical presence and his aggressiveness in midfield means he makes a high number of interceptions and tackles per 90, making him one of the best ball-winners in Europe’s top five leagues.
He wins the ball in deep areas of the pitch and advances with the ball to try to create space and opportunities for his teammates.
Although Liverpool has Fabinho in their ranks, Tchouameni could still play a key part in Liverpool’s structure.
His ability to play slightly deeper could be really significant, as he would be able to support either of the fullbacks when they progress up the pitch, whilst also being comfortable as a number eight when called upon.
However, just like Bellingham, Tchouameni would be a high-value target, and many top clubs around Europe also have an eye on the French star.
Lucas Paqueta – Olympique Lyonnais
Staying with the French league, the 24-year-old midfielder has been a player that’s been praised by many this season, after having a good season for Lyon.
The ability to constantly find space is something he does really well, and he’s able to pick it up and progress with the ball into dangerous positions.
He does it well through his ability to dribble in tight spaces and his sense of creativity, especially in the final third.
Normally the Brazilian falls into spaces out wide in an attempt to make the middle of the pitch easier for teammates to work through. When he receives it out wide, he either pulls it back or uses his creativity to generate danger in the box.
Something Klopp might enjoy in Paqueta would be his adaptability, as he can take up multiple positions further up in the attack.
Liverpool haven’t had a midfielder like Paqueta since the departure of Philippe Coutinho. Despite Liverpool playing well since the Brazilian left for Barcelona, Klopp might be attracted to the possibility of having Paqueta at the AXA Training Centre.
However, Paqueta has mainly played as a false nine this season for Lyon, and he may find it tricky to move back to being a Box-to-Box midfielder in a different league and a different formation instead of Lyon’s 4-4-2.
Vitinha – FC Porto
Finally, the Portuguese youngster has been linked with a move to Anfield recently, with assistant manager, Pep Lijnders being a fan of him.
Vitinha was recently on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played as a number ten, but he had an unsuccessful loan spell. However, since returning to the Portuguese giants, he’s turned his form around playing as a central midfielder.
A key part of his game is breaking the lines of the opposition, whilst also having an impact on the defensive duties.
His eye for a pass is so important for linking the play between the midfield and the attack in a matter of moments, with a variety of passes helping him make the most ideal pass to cause larger problems.
So far, he’s been a great player for Porto, helping them with their title charge.
He’s a player who has it all, and for an estimated fee of around £33 million, it seems a real possibility for Liverpool to make the move, but they must be quick as other big clubs are looking to tempt him away from Porto.
What Next
There is a possibility that one of these four midfielders move to Liverpool, there is also a possibility that none of them end up at Anfield at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, but there are also plenty of other top midfielders in Europe who could be linked to Merseyside.
Any one of these could add an extra element to the team, which can help Jurgen Klopp if he’s looking to battle on all fronts once again next year.
Liverpool might have a quiet transfer window and avoid signing any players in the window, keeping the current set of players. However, the decision made by Klopp and Julian Ward will likely be the correct choice for the club.
Final Whistle 
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