Liverpool were interested in Jude Bellingham for the longest time until they were priced out by other parties. Now the likes of Fabrizio Romano sing us songs about the likes of Mason Mount and other midfielders from big clubs who are sure to cost FSG a lot of money — money they are usually hesitant to spend.
However, there are options the Reds could look at this summer with many talented players facing the prospect of being relegated from the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White
Forest set up a whole new team after they were promoted to the top flight. Two of the biggest stars in their first season back in ages have been forward Brennan Johnson and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White has got 4 goals and 6 assists in 33 games for Forest in the Premier League so far. He is a good dribbler and likes to open up defences with his precise passing.
He doesn’t have a designated position and does a bit of everything. This season, he's featured a lot as a no.10 and as a striker, as well as on the right wing of Forest’s frontline.
The 23-year-old raised many eyebrows when a newly-promoted Forest coughed up £42.5m to prise Gibbs-White from Wolves, but the 23-year-old has impressed fans and Gareth Southgate alike as England manager follows his progress.
Southampton: James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia
28-year-old England international Ward-Prowse is a brilliant set-piece taker — Pep Guardiola called him the best set-piece taker in the world. The next time he scores from a set-kick, he equals David Beckham’s all-time record for free-kick goals (18) in the Premier League.
Ward-Prowse also manages to play a decent number of progressive passes, which is even more impressive given how poor the Saints have been this season. In a tumbledown Southampton side, JWP has 9 goals and 3 assists this season which is more than decent.
He's also barely ever injured and tends to play 90 minutes every game. As the Athletic put it in a recent article, Ward-Prowse is regarded as his team's 'only consistent player, leader and winner'. Basically, he is Southampton: think about how Liverpool depended on Alisson this season and multiply by two.
If the Saints are relegated, his status as a one-club man will be challenged. JWP is currently priced at €38 million by Transfermarkt and with his skill set, it would be baffling if he goes down with Southampton without any Premier League club scooping him up this summer.
Another player from Southampton to look at is Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, who recently turned 19 years old. He is already renowned for his impactful defensive ability, something that Klopp will surely appreciate.
He may be raw still but type his name in Google and see the likes of Chelsea and Man United linked.
The main concern with Lavia is Man City's involvement. When the club sold him to Southampton last summer, they included clauses that meant they can match any bid, and also have a buyback clause as well as a sell-on clause of 20 per cent, if Southampton try to sell him.
Everton: Amadou Onana
Onana has probably been Everton's best player this season, impressing with his aerial skills and tackling. He’s sometimes described as a monster tackler but he’s more of a box-to-box than a defensive midfielder.
His other strength is his maturity, well beyond his 21 years of age. Speaking to Sky Sports, former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez described Onana as a ‘coach on the pitch’ and someone who is also affecting others in the dressing room.
In January, he publicly defied the rumours claiming he wanted to leave the sinking ship Everton and vowed to fight for Everton till the end.
That's hard to move between Everton and Liverpool though. Last time it happened was in 2002 when Abel Xavier joined the best side of the city of Liverpool.
Leicester City: Youri Tielemans
Tielemans is an option Liverpool should consider even if Leicester stay up given his contract expires this summer. The 25-year-old is simply excellent when it comes to moving the ball, passing and long strikes.
Why is he still at Leicester, one might ask? Part of the reason may be he’s not a 'power midfielder', as the Athletic puts it. Although he regularly clocks up 12km per game, he is not a player to lunge into duels to disrupt the opposition. And yet, he’s still one of the better midfielders in the league.
Just like his team, Tielemans isn't quite firing but last term he clocked a solid 7 goals and 5 assists in all competitions.
Would you want any of those players at Liverpool?
