Liverpool told they could have signed their own Rodri in ‘brilliant’ £47m ace

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It is a debate that has raged at Liverpool for around two years now.

While the extent and the speed of Fabinho’s decline became clear – the Brazilian seemingly a busted flush long before he left Anfield for Saudi Arabia – the number six spot has looked like a weak point in this Reds side since Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate season in charge.

Now, with Klopp gone, it’s a problem Arne Slot inherits.

For all of the qualities available to Liverpool in the centre of the park – Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic represent the sort of depth most Premier League bosses can only dream of – this is still a side overloaded with ball-progressers but lacking in ball-winners.

Liverpool do not have a Rodri. They don’t have a Declan Rice, a Boubacar Kamara or a Joao Gomes, to name but three currently earning a living elsewhere in England’s top flight.

And Manchester United legend Paul Scholes wonders if his old adversaries may have missed a trick.

Should Liverpool have signed Joao Palhinha from Fulham?

Joao Palhinha, at the second time of asking, completed his £47 million move from Fulham to Bayern Munich in July.

And Scholes, meanwhile, cannot help but wonder if the former Craven Cottage enforcer was the missing piece in Liverpool’s jigsaw.

“I think Liverpool, in that area of the pitch, have got some really good players,” Scholes tells The Overlap on YouTube. “I could probably name four or five when I name Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, there’s Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister.

“I think it’s important they have someone solid (to provide a) a solid base).”

“I think it’s important they add someone solid. In an ideal world, we’ve all talked about Rodri. He’s the best in the world at doing it, but there were actually players they could have gone for.

“You think of the lad at Fulham who went to Bayern Munich, Palhinha. I thought he was brilliant in the World Cup.

“I thought he was one who could’ve possibly gone to Liverpool, just to sort everything out in the middle of the pitch, make that spine stronger and let the rest of the players play.”

Arne Slot pursuing Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad

Mac Allister and Endo both filled the deep-lying midfield role on occasions last season, albeit with somewhat mixed results. Former Brighton star Mac Allister is an outstanding picker of passes – an ‘incredibly creative’ player – but is not a natural disruptor in the Fabinho mould.

Endo is more adept at snapping into tackles but lacks the on-the-ball quality to reliably break the lines.

If you were to combine Mac Allister and Endo’s best strengths, you would probably have a pretty impressive number six. But, as no technology exists, this is a problem Liverpool will have to turn to the transfer market to fix.

HITC understands that Martin Zubimendi has emerged as the most likely candidate.

The silky Spain international is ready to embark on a fresh challenge on English soil. Liverpool have held talks with his current employers – La Liga outfit Real Sociedad – with talks heading in the right direction even if the six-time European Champions would prefer to pay his £51 million release clause in instalments rather than in one lump sum.

Zubimendi was on Arsenal’s radar at the start of the summer.

The Gunners have shifted their focus, however, to his La Real team-mate Mikel Merino.