Following Liverpool’s disaster 2020/21 Premier League campaign, the Reds have already been active in the transfer market and have secured the services of RB Leipzig’s highly-rated centre-back Ibrahima Konate for £36 million. While Konate solves most of Liverpool’s defensive problems, there is still a lot of work Jurgen Klopp’s side need to do in the transfer market ahead of the new season, and here are 3 players Liverpool should sign this summer.
1. YOURI TIELEMANS
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Club: Leicester City
Value: £49.5 million
Liverpool are in dire need of some extra bodies in central midfield to supplement the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho. Gini Wijnaldum has left on a free transfer, James Milner is now 35 and reports suggest the club are unlikely to offer Jordan Henderson a new contract once his current one expires in 2023.
The Reds require a long-term solution in that position and their number one priority should be Youri Tielemans. Liverpool scouts have been tracking Tielemans since his Anderlecht days and the Belgian midfielder would fit in like a glove in Jurgen Klopp’s system. Tielemans is a midfield general capable of dictating the tempo of the play as well as progressing the ball up the pitch and would be the perfect replacement for Wijanldum’s role in midfield.
The 24-year-old is yet to enter his prime and is already proven in the Premier League with Leicester, making it an extremely low-risk signing. Leicester are unlikely to part ways with one of their players of the season for a small fee, but with only two years left on his contract, Liverpool could secure his services with a bid in the region of £50-60 million.
2. AMINE GOUIRI
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Club: OGC Nice
Value: £27 million
With Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi set to leave Anfield this summer, Liverpool are short on options in the attacking positions and might need more than one signing to fill up the numbers. Although it is unlikely the Reds will spend big on a Roberto Firmino replacement this summer, one promising player they could look at to replace the Brazilian in the years to come is Amine Gouiri.
Gouiri is coming off a breakout season for Nice – scoring 12 goals and bagging 7 assists in Ligue 1 – and has attracted interest from plenty of top clubs around Europe. Gouiri is capable of playing on both wings as well as through the middle and could be seen as a long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino in the false nine role at Liverpool.
The Frenchman is incredibly gifted technically which helps him excel in tight spaces and link-up play. He is also incredibly silky while carrying the ball and his passing can look effortless at times. One downside is that Gouiri can be a liability without the ball and isn’t great at pressing from the front, unlike Roberto Firmino. However, at 21, there is plenty of time for him to develop that side of the game under a world-class coach such as Jurgen Klopp.
3. RAPHINHA
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Club: Leeds United
Value: £27.5 million
Apart from the various injuries faced by Liverpool last season, one of the main issues Jurgen Klopp’s side faced during their barren run at the start of 2021 was a lack of goals. While Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are still some of the most frightening attacking trios in world football, they are all approaching 30 and the Reds need to bring in an attacker who could support them in the short-term and ultimately replace them in the years to come.
One player who would suit Liverpool’s system perfectly and brings plenty of Premier League experience is Leeds winger Raphinha. The Brazilian scored 4 goals and bagged 9 assists in the league last season for Leeds United and was one of the most creative wide players in the league. Raphinha has already thrived in a high-pressing system under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds and can play on both wings, making him an ideal long-term replacement for either Salah and Mane.
Leeds only bought Raphinha from Rennes one year ago for £15 million but reports suggest that they could be willing to let the Brazilian leave for the right price.
Thanks to the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota, Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez all returning from injury, Liverpool will be the most improved team in the league next season without spending any money. However, with both Manchester clubs and Chelsea breaking the bank to strengthen their squad over the summer, the Reds also must spend money in the last month of the window if they are keen to add Premier League trophy number 20 to their cabinet.
[Image Credit: Youri Tielemans]
Shivaan Shah