Liverpool are patient with their upcoming transfer after Alexis Mac Allister was brought to Anfield a few weeks ago. Here we look at what might come next.
It is clear that Alexis Mac Allister cannot be the only signing for Liverpool this summer, and he won’t be. The Argentine is off to a great start, but the Reds will make more moves.
Among them will be at least one other midfielder, although two would be ideal, and there is also the possibility Liverpool bring in another defender, with a long-term plan required both in defense and further down the pitch.
Khephren Thuram looks to be one of Liverpool’s biggest contenders in midfield. The 22-year-old Nice midfielder has all the qualities to advance Jurgen Klopp’s team and bring the necessary boost of energy and quality.
According to Nice Matin (translated by Get French Football News), Nice could strike deals for Thuram for as low as $44m (£34m/€40m), which would represent another favorable transfer move. . However, that will probably have to wait until Thuram’s commitment to the European U21 Championship ends.
But what should have priority other than him? There is an argument that signing two midfielders might be enough. Combining Mac Allister with Thuram as a new signing would take the total to eight, as there are already six other midfielders at Anfield.
There should be enough minutes between Mac Allister, Thuram, Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajcetic, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. However, the addition of a ninth player would be at the forefront as Thiago’s contract expires next summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, a player that Liverpool are considering, it would make sense to sign another player perhaps a little younger and more planned, with Roméo Lavia.
The Belgian would cost more than $51 million. Gabri Veiga is on Liverpool’s shortlist and would fit into a similar category, as the Spain youth international has a $44m (£34m/€40m) release clause which the Reds could trigger .
Revelo journalist Óscar Méndez reported on Twitter last week that Liverpool had already made an offer with personal terms. Although Veiga isn’t the immediate priority, his release clause would make it a fairly easy deal should Liverpool decide to pull the trigger and it would cost less than Lavia.
If Liverpool were to sign another defender as well, it would be the perfect summer for the newcomers to add to their squad ahead of the new season. A player on the left has priority.
Recently, Football Insider reported that Gonçalo Inácio is one of the names under consideration, while Micky van de Ven is another.
The former has a $49million escape clause, while the latter, according to German site WAZ, would cost at least $33m to sign from Wolfsburg.
If, to use a plausible estimate, Liverpool signed Thuram and Van de Ven, it would cost around $76m (£60m/€70m) based on the figures above. At least two additions to the selection must be the minimum.
In the dream scenario, Liverpool could sign Thuram, Veiga and Inácio, getting their midfield and defense in order before the problems escalate. That would be around $136m (£107m/£125m), which should be realistic for a major makeover in the summer.
