If there is one positive Liverpool fans can take out of Monday’s listless 2-1 defeat to Premier League rivals Manchester United – every cloud and all that – it’s that there’s still a week remaining in the transfer window.
“If the right player is not available then we tend to say; ‘Ok we deal with what we have before we sign a player who is not 100 per cent the right player’,” Klopp told The Mirror at his pre-match press conference.
“Now we have more injuries than we would have imagined. And now would be cool to have a new midfielder in, of course.”
Liverpool, as they showed when concluding deals for Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, are not going to rush into Plan B just because Plan A is proving difficult. But while the men from Merseyside will have to wait at least another 10 months or so before making a concerted move for their number one midfield target – Jude Bellingham – the nature of Liverpool’s first league defeat at Old Trafford since 2018 could be enough to convince Klopp and co to speed things up a bit.
Yes, Bellingham might not be available right here, right now. But that does not mean there aren’t a couple of other midfielders capable of making an immediate impact at Anfield.
Florian Grillitsch – free agent
Somehow still a free-agent nearly two months after leaving Hoffenheim, the 6ft 2ins Austria international is as efficient as he is elegant. And Julian Nagelsmann knows a talent when he sees one.
“In my opinion, Flo Grillitsch is one of the best players in the Bundesliga,” the former Hoffenheim boss once said of his Rhein Neckar Arena playmaker. “He is an exceptional footballer and has an incredible gift for setting the tempo of the game.”
With Roma looking to replace the crocked Gini Wijnaldum, anyone wanting Grillitsch will have to move quickly.
Ismael Bennacer – AC Milan
The one-time Arsenal youngster has made his name as one of the game’s finest ball-winners at the San Siro. But, during AC Milan’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Sunday, Bennacer showed that he can make a difference in the attacking third too, curling an outrageous shot into the bottom corner.
Bennacer’s boundless energy and ball-carrying ability would have come in very handy at Old Trafford.
Youri Tielemans – Leicester City
It certainly feels strange that, despite the fact Tielemans has less than 12 months remaining on his King Power contract, interest seems to be on the wane. Arsenal are yet make a serious offer, while Manchester United appear to be looking elsewhere.
Yes, Tielemans has struggled for consistent form since the turn of the year. But, on his way, there are few playmakers in the Premier League more influential than the stylish Belgium international.
According to The Telegraph, Liverpool decided against pursuing Tielemans in 2021 because they feared he would be too expensive. One year on, that very same player could be available for around £25 million.
Carlos Soler – Valencia
Another player who, despite his obvious talents, remains oddly absent from the gossip columns. Valencia’s talismanic number 10 is the sort of all-action, thrusting midfielder Liverpool have missed ever since Wijnaldum left for PSG last year.
The Spain international has scored 28 goals for club and country since the start of 2020/21. And, according to reports, Los Che believe now is the right time to cash in on their captain.
Mahmoud Dahoud – Dortmund
Per The Express, Liverpool were planning a £25 million bid for Dahoud when he was still a Borussia Monchengladbach player. Five years on, the Syria-born German might not have blossomed into one of the continent’s very best since swapping Gladbach for Dortmund but he’s been quietly excellent in yellow-and-black for some time now.
Dahoud is still just 26. And, like Tielemans, he should be available on a knock-down fee with his contract expiring in the summer of 2023.
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