Liverpool want to bring in a top central midfielder this summer which will give us options, class and strength in depth.
Paul Joyce of the Times has claimed that Liverpool are doing all we can to sign Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita, who if bought, will join Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Adam Lallana and Gini Wijnaldum centrally.
That quintet possesses an excellent deep-lying playmaker (Henderson), two destructive holding midfielders who can also play box-to-box (Can and Keita), and two more creative, link players – who press relentlessly but provide final product too (Lallana and Wijnaldum).
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Liverpool’s 23-year-old central midfielder will be sold this summer (The Times)
Even with two of the above five injured (not unlikely, from past experience), we’ll still have three high level central midfielders who can play in a 4-3-3, or at least two to be used in a 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Obviously talking about it easy, but acquiring Keita won’t be. The Guinean has scored eight goals this season and registered seven assists, all the more impressive considering he’s been predominantly used an anchorman.
Joyce suggests we’ll sit down with Lucas to discuss his future at the club and do the same with Daniel Sturridge. At fullback, Ryan Sessegnon is the primary target, meaning the youngster can join Trent Alexander-Arnold in learning his trade behind Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner.