Liverpool have yet to make a new signing in the Arne Slot era but may push to make a major addition before the transfer deadline.
The Reds are embarking on a new era having seen Jurgen Klopp leave the club at the end of last season.
Klopp departed by urging fans to get behind new manager Arne Slot as he prepared to arrive from Feyenoord.
Slot wasn’t the first choice for many Liverpool fans upon Klopp’s announcement that he would be leaving Anfield in January.
The Dutchman has been brought in with a strong reputation though, having worked wonders during his time in charge of Feyenoord.
Slot’s style of play has really caught the eye this summer, bringing a more possession-based approach than the one Klopp utilised.
Liverpool are yet to bring in new faces under Slot but The Athletic claim that a new midfielder is becoming a priority.
It’s stated that a ‘specialist number six from outside the Premier League’ is wanted before the window closes.
Liverpool chose not to move for new Brighton and Hove Albion signing Mats Wieffer whilst Marseille have chased Wataru Endo.
A new signing to replicate Wieffer’s role under Slot at Feyenoord would be ideal, so let’s look into three potential targets, in our opinion…
Martin Zubimendi
England fans were over the moon when Rodri was substituted at half time of the Euro 2024 final.
Spain not only coped without the Manchester City star, but saw replacement Martin Zubimendi run the game in his absence.
The Real Sociedad star has built quite the the reputation in Spanish football and has shown the quality to excel from a deep role.
HITC understands that Zubimendi has a £51million release clause in his contract but Arsenal have backed away.
Zubimendi has been reluctant to leave Real but Liverpool may be tempted to try their luck as Slot chases a top number six.
Manuel Ugarte
Reports from Give Me Sport in June suggested that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte had been offered to Liverpool.
The Uruguayan ace – an international teammate of Darwin Nunez – is available this summer with Luis Enrique seemingly unconvinced.
The expectation was that Ugarte would join Manchester United just a year after leaving Sporting for PSG.
However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein claims that United have switched away from Ugarte in order to focus on other targets.
A combative midfielder who has been a defensive machine in years gone by, Ugarte has also shown the ability to carry and play the ball forward.
Ugarte may not be quite as dynamic as Wieffer in that regard but it’s a role he could grow into under Slot if Liverpool pounce.
Angelo Stiller
The wildcard here could be Angelo Stiller.
Liverpool raided Stuttgart to sign Endo last summer and they replaced him with Stiller, reuniting him with his former Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeness.
“I can judge him down to the smallest detail. As a central midfielder, he has incredible strategic skills. He can read a game and is able to dictate a game from the six position,” said Hoeness in 2021, as quoted by Bavarian Football Works.
Stiller was exceptional last summer, playing a key role as Stuttgart secured a second-place finish in the Bundesliga table.
A deep-lying playmaker with a superb passing range, Stiller also racked up 55 tackles and 28 interceptions.
Stiller recorded 52 key passes and completed the second-highest amount of passes in the Bundesliga last season with 2238 – just behind Granit Xhaka.
Stiller’s quick-thinking and ability to get play moving forward was vital to Stuttgart’s rise last season and he may be just what Slot wants in midfield.
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