Reported Liverpool target Fabian Ruiz could transform Klopp’s style

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Premier League title chasers Liverpool reportedly want to sign Fabian Ruiz from Serie A powerhouses Napoli.

In five games in league and cup so far this season, Liverpool have averaged 58 per cent of the possession.

An impressive tally certainly but, make no mistake, Jurgen Klopp’s side never resort to superfluous ‘tika taka’ or keeping the ball for the sake of it. There’s a purpose, a directness to the way Liverpool play and their dominance of the ball is more a result of the opposition’s tendency to drop off and sit in rather than any principle on Klopp’s part.

Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wiljnaldum/James Milner are, after all, no Busquets, Xavi or Iniesta. Of course, controlling the game is part of their remit but their sole task is not to pass the opposition into submission.

Though Klopp knows that great teams don’t stand still. That is part of the reason why he has introduced a new-look high defensive line this season, quite literally keeping his players on their toes.

And with Calciomercato claiming that Liverpool are planning to lure Fabian Ruiz to Anfield in the New Year, it is interesting to note that the reigning European champions are apparently interested in a midfielder who bases his game on the legendary Barcelona number six.

According to Goal, the £26 million Napoli star fell in love with the Xavi from a young age, watching on in awe as this maestro conducted the Barcelona orchestra for more than a decade at the very top level.

And Ruiz’s admiration for arguably the greatest passer of the 21st century is reflected in his statistics. The former Real Betis star has a 91 per cent pass accuracy in Serie A this season, a tally higher than Henderson (79), Milner (82) Fabinho (85) and even Wijnaldum (90).

At 6ft 2ins, the rangy, languid Ruiz is far taller than the diminutive 5ft 7ins Xavi and he’s a more unpredictable, explosive footballer too with a hammer of a shot in his locker. But, despite all the stylistic differences, they share the view that possession is ten tenths of the law.

Klopp is never going to discard his ‘heavy metal’ football for a elegant, Latin-inspired orchestra but signing Ruiz would certainly give Liverpool’s sound a more eclectic mix.