The season is underway but Liverpool are still without a defensive midfielder, so who are the best names the Reds could look at before the window closes?
It has been a whirlwind summer as far as Liverpool’s midfield is concerned, with the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai followed by the somewhat surprising departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
The Reds have long been in the market for defensive midfield reinforcement and the loss of Fabinho has only added to that requirement.
The ongoing pursuit of Romeo Lavia seems to be at an end after he “decided to join Chelsea,” according to David Ornstein of the Athletic.
With Moises Caicedo having also slipped out of Liverpool’s reach, the Reds need a No. 6 specialist and arguably further surgery in the middle.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the options.
Cheick Doucoure
Age: 23
Club: Crystal Palace
Have we been linked before? Links to Cheick Doucoure appeared to disappear as quickly as they were sprung upon us in July.
The Crystal Palace midfielder was said to be on a shortlist of names to replace Fabinho, but there has been very little news of a potential move since.
How good is he? He is Premier League-proven and at a sweet spot age where Liverpool have a history of doing good business.
Unlike some of the names on the list, Doucoure is capable of slotting straight into the side from day one without the need for a bedding in period, which could be invaluable with the time constraints we have imposed on ourselves.
Suitability? 8/10
Andre
Age: 22
Club: Fluminense
Have we been linked before? Very much so.
Andre emerged as a strong contender for the Reds as talks to bring Lavia to Anfield continued to stall.
Any potential move hinges on Fluminense’s progress in the Copa Libertadores, with the second leg of their quarter-final scheduled just hours before the English transfer deadline and the club understandably reluctant to sell beforehand.
How good is he? It is difficult to assess his ceiling given that the standard of his current league falls well below the Premier League.
He does, however, possess all of the natural qualities required and could complement a Lavia signing nicely, but arriving alone would be unlikely to represent sufficient business.
Suitability? 7/10
Boubacar Kamara
Age: 23
Club: Aston Villa
Have we been linked before? There have been very few strong links to the Frenchman, but Liverpool could certainly do a lot worse.
How good is he? Boubacar Kamara is a mainstay in an improving Aston Villa side that many are tipping to challenge for European places this season.
He arrived from Marseille with a big reputation and has adapted well to life in England, which would stand him in good stead for a move to Anfield.
Suitability? 7/10
Manu Kone
Age: 22
Club: Borussia Monchengladbach
Have we been linked before? Definitely, but the links began to die down when the Frenchman sustained a knee injury in the summer.
How good is he? Manu Kone was an important part of France’s U21 Euros campaign prior to his setback and is adept in breaking up play, but his injury history will certainly be a concern for Liverpool’s recruitment team.
Suitability? 7/10
Ibrahim Sangare
Age: 25
Club: PSV
Have we been linked before? Ibrahim Sangare was touted as an alternative when attempts to sign Aurelien Tchouameni fell through last summer.
Liverpool are said to have scouted the Ivorian and at 25 he could be capable of making an immediate impact on Merseyside.
How good is he? Ibrahim Sangare typically profiles as a deep-lying midfielder and is thought to be valued at around £30 million, with Nottingham Forest having already shown interest.
He is direct in his approach and would become Liverpool’s second-oldest midfielder if he joined, so he would bring with him some valuable experience whilst still having plenty of miles left on the clock.
Suitability? 6/10
Florentino Luis
Age: 23
Club: Benfica
Have we been linked before? Florentino Luis was tentatively touted as a midfield option earlier this summer, but there has yet to be any formal approach from Liverpool.
How good is he? Liverpool have had plenty of joy poaching players from Liga Portugal and this could be another player that ticks a lot of boxes.
The Portuguese midfielder is tall and possesses a lot of similar qualities to Fabinho, which is no bad thing given that is effectively the player the Reds are looking to replace.
Suitability? 8/10
Tyler Adams
Age: 24
Club: Leeds
Have we been linked before? There were rumours of interest two summers ago, but it has been Chelsea who have made more concrete strides in their pursuit.
Tyler Adams looked destined for Stamford Bridge until a move fell through while the club made approaches for Lavia and Caicedo.
How good is he? With a £20 million release clause, Adams can be regarded as a relative bargain in the current market.
He is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and no date has yet been set for a return, but his awarding of the USA captaincy demonstrates the high regard in which he is held on the international stage.
Suitability? 6/10
Teun Koopmeiners
Age: 25
Club: Atalanta
Have we been linked before? Loosely, but the same could be said for most midfielders in Europe of a decent standard!
Reports in January indicated that the Reds had shown interest in Teun Koopmeiners, but no “concrete” approach has been made before or since.
How good is he? He offers a physical presence and can play in a number of different positions across the midfield.
The Dutchman is capable of breaking up play while also providing a threat going forward, both of which could be hugely useful for the Reds as they seek more goals from the middle of the park.
He has all of the experience and qualities needed to make a fast start to life at Liverpool, which could become an imperative trait with the season already underway.
Suitability? 7/10
Martin Zubimendi
Age: 24
Club: Real Sociedad
Have we been linked before? He has played under former Red Xabi Alonso, but there have been very few palpable links to Liverpool as far as an actual transfer is concerned.
Alonso managed Martin Zubimendi during his spell with Real Sociedad B, where the midfielder blossomed into a quality defensive midfield operator.
How good is he? He has one senior cap for Spain on his CV, which is no mean feat given the depth of quality in that midfield.
At 24 he could be primed to take the next big steps in his career at a top European side.
He is excellent at winning his individual battles and possesses a keen eye for a creative pass through to the forward players.
Suitability? 8/10
Youssouf Fofana
Age: 24
Club: Monaco
Have we been linked before? Loosely, it is fair to say.
Back in May, the Mail Online said Liverpool “set their sights” on the France international, but not much has been reported since.
He could suit Liverpool well if we were to make a move for him, given his level of experience at a relatively young age. He has played 10 times for his national team already, including 90 minutes in France’s World Cup semi-final win vs. Morocco.
He is clearly able to be trusted then, but likely wouldn’t pose as much threat going forwards as someone like Caicedo. His primary strength is winning the ball back and, at 6ft tall, can win a header too.
Suitability? 7/10
Who would you like to see Liverpool sign? Let us know in the comments below.
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