According to Football Insider, Liverpool are prioritising the signing of a defensive midfielder before the summer transfer window closes.
Liverpool are the only club in the top five European leagues to make a signing this summer and with a new manager preparing for his first season of Premier League football, it is surprising that no business has been done as of yet.
Arne Slot has been tasked with the difficult job of succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield and with a fanbase full of high expectations from glory over the last eight years, it will be important for the former Feyenoord boss to make an instant impact.
Former sporting director Michael Edwards who was famed for helping the German coach build a European super-team has returned to the club as an operations director and has appointed ex-Bournemouth recruitment whiz Richard Hughes to take of Liverpool’s new era.
Although there has been no solid activity in the recruitment department as of yet, Slot and the current squad have been out in America getting stuck into their preseason tour, so the preparations for the new campaign are well underway.
But will Liverpool look to the remaining weeks of the summer transfer market to strengthen their squad? Football Insider reported last night that the Reds are working on adding depth and quality to a very specific role.
As per the report, Liverpool are working on an investment into the defensive midfield role currently occupied by Wataru Endo, but will now accelerate their attempts to find a long-term replacement before the window closes at the end of next month.
Will Liverpool sign a defensive midfielder?
Ever since Brazilian star Fabinho left the club at the end of last summer, the defensive midfield position has been a concern for the Anfield faithful.
Indeed, the shrewd signing of former Stuttgart skipper Endo was a welcomed and much-needed acquisition, however, the Japan international is now 31 years old and as a result, would not be considered a long-term solution to the gaping hole that Fabinho left behind in the centre of the pitch.
Alexis Mac Allister was often found covering the defensive role in the trio of midfielders deployed by Klopp last season, but his prowess in a more progressive and attacking role is wasted when he is restricted to covering in a defensive position.
Tyler Morton and Stefan Bajcetic are two young and upcoming midfielders who have both excelled in the deeper role and, at time of writing, look both likely to remain at Liverpool as opposed to being shipped out of loan to ensure depth is available over the coming season.
Though the pair have both shown promise in their respective performances over their short careers so far, their experience probably doesn’t earn them the right to have a trusted role outright role in the starting line-up as of yet, but with the likes of Jarell Quansah excelling in his debut season, there is no reason why they won’t be given a shot.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool can find the right defensive midfielder who can offer not only a long-term solution but the crucial experience and consistent quality needed to start at the highest level across competitions next season.
