Before Saturday’s 9-0 triumph against Bournemouth, Liverpool had struggled to get going this season, failing to register a win in their opening three games. Draws at home and away to Crystal Palace and Fulham were followed by a loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Jurgen Klopp has come under fire after this poor start due to his inability to strengthen the squad by introducing dynamic players. Liverpool have been using the same core group of players since 2018, and it is now apparent that they need to phase some players out.
With that said, here are five players Liverpool can sign before the end of the transfer window.
Youri Tielemans
Tielemans is one of Europe’s most sought-after midfield prospects.
The Leicester City midfielder is said to be available for just £25 million this summer as his contract runs out in June 2023.
Liverpool is currently critically short of midfield options with Thiago, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and Curtis Jones out injured. They also lack a playmaking midfield presence that can dictate their tempo and offer an attacking threat.
Tielemans not only fits into this bracket but also, at just 25 years, has room for exponential development and growth.
James Maddison
Another Leicester midfielder ready for an upgrade is James Maddison. The 25-year-old England international has been rumoured to move away from the King Power Stadium all summer.
Maddison is a top playmaker, so much so that In the Premier League last season, he provided 20 goal contributions in 28 starting appearances. He also averaged 1.5 key passes per game, better than any of Liverpool’s current midfielders.
It will be asking a lot to meet Leicester City’s asking price of £80 million. Still, Liverpool could potentially negotiate a cheaper price tag as they can offer a higher wage and Champions League football, amongst other benefits.
James Maddison will also be open to a move as he has made known his intentions to compete on a bigger stage ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Amadou Haidara
Our third midfield option is RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara.
Haidara shares very similar qualities with Naby Keita. He is a pressing machine capable of carrying the ball through midfield.
The 24-year-old Malian international will easily slot into Klopp’s side as he can play across the midfield positions or even be deployed as a right back.
Haidara also has excellent playmaking abilities, ranking in the 95th percentile of progressive passes made in the Bundesliga last season. He has room for improvement, but as a young and hungry talent, under Klopp’s management, he can emerge as one of Europe’s finest in no time.
Teun Koopmeiners
The fourth player on our list, Teun Koopmeiners, is a graceful midfielder and defender whose versatility can alleviate Liverpool’s injury woes. He can play as a centre-back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and attacking midfielder.
The 24-year-old Dutchman moved to Atalanta in a deal worth €12 million last summer and quickly became one of Europe’s top players to watch.
Koopmeiners is strong at pressing, one of Klopp’s most essential qualities, and he also knows how to pick a pass. In fact, in Serie A last season, he averaged 1.6 key passes per game and completed 83% of his passes.
As a Dutch international, Koopmeiners will be open to a move to Merseyside and can even form a partnership with his national team captain, Virgil Van Dijk, ahead of the World Cup.
Houssem Aouar
Last but certainly not least is Olympique Lyon’s playmaker Houssem Aouar.
The 24-year-old French midfielder has been linked with a move away from Ligue 1 for the second summer in a row, with Nottingham Forrest leading the race for him this summer.
Aouar is an excellent playmaker with insane passing abilities. He’s widely regarded as one of the best playmakers across Europe’s top 5 leagues.
He is a long-term admirer of the Premier League and is said to be available for €50 million this summer – a fee a club of Liverpool’s ilk could potentially afford.
