Jamie Carragher has now defended John Henry and FSG for Liverpool failing to sign a new midfielder. He, instead, points the finger at Jurgen Klopp as the funds were there to spend.
The Reds hero notes how the Anfield natives have spent lavish sums reinforcing the attack in recent windows. Klopp has brought Luis Diaz to Merseyside for £50m, Darwin Nunez for £85m, Fabio Carvalho for £8m and now Cody Gakpo, too, for £44m – including add-ons.
But for all the funds directed toward the frontline, Klopp and Liverpool have neglected the need to sign a midfielder. Arthur Melo arrived on loan from Juventus for £4m, plus a £32m buy option, in a desperate last-ditch deal in September. But he has struggled with injuries.
Klopp has still churned through a number of midfielders in his bid to kickstart Liverpool’s Premier League season. Fabinho has featured the most often with 1,254 minutes from 18 outings. Thiago Alcantara has played 1,158 from 14 and Harvey Elliott has 1,134 from 20.
Jordan Henderson has enjoyed 918 minutes through his 17 Premier League appearances this term. While Carvalho has featured for 335 from 11 ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (315 in 8), Naby Keita (247 in 6), Stefan Bajcetic (193 in 5) and Curtis Jones (185 in 6) so far.
Carragher now points the finger at Klopp for Liverpool not signing a midfielder
The 37-year-old James Milner has also featured in midfield along with his outings at right-back for 541 minutes through 14. But Liverpool did try to sign a new midfielder last year in Aurelien Tchouameni. But he joined Real Madrid from Monaco for up to €100m (£88.5m).
The France international even admitted to Le Parisien in November that he held talks with the Reds over a switch. Tchouameni was also an option for Liverpool in 2021, per Corriere Dello Sport. He was available for just €30m (£26.5m) at the time a year after joining them.
But Carragher notes that Klopp elected to stick with the midfielders Liverpool already had when Tchouameni said no. It was not FSG or Henry who blocked the Reds from signing an option to improve the position. Now, the Reds need to sign an entirely new unit in 2023.
Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph: “Since the summer of 2022, Liverpool have committed £180m on four attackers in Luis Diaz [who joined in January 2022], Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo. Liverpool’s owners did not fail to invest.
“They failed to invest in a midfielder. Now they need a new midfield. Liverpool wanted to sign one in Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, knowing his market value was £75m.
“When Tchouameni chose Real Madrid, the money was there if Klopp wanted an alternative. But he opted to wait until 2023, hoping he will lure Jude Bellingham. That was Klopp’s call, not owner John W Henry’s.”
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