Top class defensive midfielders do not grow on trees. So when one inevitably finds himself at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war, truly eye-watering bids are usually required in order to take him away from his current employers.
Real Madrid were forced to splash out £72 million for Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni, for instance. Manchester City paid over £40 million for Kalvin Phillips despite the fact that the so-called Yorkshire Pirlo had just two years remaining on his Leeds United contract.
And while Casemiro has been worth every single penny as far as Erik ten Hag’s resurgent Man United side are concerned, the fact remains that the Red Devils invested up to £70 million on a player who, in February, will celebrate his 31st birthday.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will have to make Enzo Fernandez the most expensive player in Premier League history if they are serious about bringing Argentina’s World Cup winning playmaker to Stamford Bridge this month. Since arriving at Benfica in July, Fernandez’s price-tag has risen by around £100 million.
Now, this is a rather long-winded way of highlighting the fact that, when signing Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille, Aston Villa pulled off one of the most inspired signings in recent Premier League history. A free transfer for the ages. How much would Kamara cost now, for instance, after an impressive half-season in claret-and-blue? £40 million? £50 million? More?
‘Fantastic’ Boubacar Kamara a revelation at Aston Villa
Only Tyler Adams and Joao Palhinha – who cost Leeds and Fulham £20 million apiece – are averaging more tackles per game this term than Aston Villa’s number 44 (WhoScored). Kamara’s monstrous performance during Sunday’s 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, was arguably as good as anything we’ve seen from Casemiro this season.
“(Douglas) Luiz and Kamara is a good combination,” Unai Emery beams; the Brazilian and the Frenchman combining to out-run and out-play Spurs. “They are understanding better step by step.
“To mix both of them is fantastic. Their performance today was fantastic to help us to win.”
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course. But with the Mirror reporting that Liverpool watched Kamara without ever making a firm offer before the Frenchman joined Aston Villa, the contrast between his performances and those of Fabinho – who’s decline has been as pronounced as it’s been rapid – do not reflect well at all on Jurgen Klopp’s oft-praised recruitment team.
“I totally agree (that Liverpool’s midfield is a weak link),” Jermaine Pennant tells talkSPORT. “I think Fabinho, now, we’ve seen the best of him. We’ve used the best of Fabinho. He’s fell off that little cliff.”
Fabinho needs replacing at Anfield
Kamara, on current form, would walk straight into Liverpool’s midfield without breaking sweat. It’s hard to believe that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, for example, would have sauntered so freely through during the recent 2-1 victory over Leicester City with Kamara stationed in front of a vulnerable backline.
Klopp’s tired, ageing and worryingly stagnant engine room also failed to keep pace with Brentford on Monday. High-pressing, energetic sides – such as Fulham, Everton and Manchester United – have frequently the better of Liverpool in recent months. If Klopp was waiting for Fabinho to rediscover his old form, well let’s just say that the wait goes on.
Watching Liverpool now is like watching someone trying to fill up a bathtub without a plug.
‘The main culprit, I’d say, is probably Fabinho,” adds Dietmar Hammann (talkSPORT). “Because he’s not been that defensive shield he has been over the last few years.”
“When the back four haven’t got any protection then obviously you’ll give away chances. Fabinho hasn’t been the same for the last six or seven months.”
Perhaps the biggest worry facing Reds supporters, however, is that there is no easy solution to a growing problem. Klopp has already admitted that big-money midfield signings are unlikely in the near future. Enzo Fernandez and Jude Bellingham, both valued in excess of £100 million, are prohibitively expensive. Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, while cheaper, would still cost in the region of £60 million.
If Klopp was to renew his interest in Kamara, Aston Villa would demand a similarly block-busting fee.
Liverpool, when the time comes to replace Fabinho, surely cannot hope of finding a gem of a player like Kamara without first paying a rather princely sum.
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