Liverpool and Bayern continue to hold Ibrahim Sangare in mind this summer amid an ongoing search for a top holding midfielder.
PSV insider Rik Elfrink shared the news on X on Monday morning following the Reds’ failed attempt to land prominent Chelsea target Moises Caicedo.
It now looks the case that secondary target Romeo Lavia could follow suit after the Merseysiders briefly abandoned pursuit in favour of an opportunistic, last-ditch attempt to sign the Ecuadorian international.
With available pathways in the market dwindling, we simply can’t afford to dawdle and allow the gameweeks to pass by – particularly if our 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend was any indication.
Liverpool’s need for a genuine number six is not only blatantly obvious but to prolong the wait to replace Fabinho beyond our next league meeting with Bournemouth would be tantamount to gross negligence at this stage.
At 25 years of age (and available for a release clause of £32.3m), we can have no qualms over the Eredivisie star’s level of experience and seniority, so the only question that remains is whether we perceive him to be a sound fit for our system and the demands of the English top-flight.
According to stats shared on FB Ref, the Ivorian excels across a range of key metrics in offensive actions, possession-based stats and defensive actions, ranking in the 92nd, 91st and 77th percentiles for non-penalty xG, progressive passing and tackling respectively.
Whatever the case, a decision is needed – and soon!
Trent Alexander-Arnold sends blunt message to Liverpool Premier League rivals after Chelsea draw
Trent Alexander-Arnold has insisted Liverpool consider themselves to be title challengers this season – despite few individuals backing them to do so.
The majority are expecting Manchester City to retain their Premier League crown this term, which will see them become the first team to win the English top-flight four years running, with Arsenal viewed as their closest competitors.
Liverpool’s lack of transfer business has left many hesitant to tip them for the title, with a defensive midfielder and a central defender still positions the team are lacking in. Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea exposed both of these areas, with the Reds left exposed on various occasions during the match at Stamford Bridge.
This performance may have done little to convince doubters Klopp’s men are capable of competing for top spot, though Alexander-Arnold is taking no notice of such predictions. Asked for his views on a lack of belief from the outside that Liverpool can go all the way this season, the Reds’ right-back said: “That’s fine by us. We’ve proven over the years that we’re able to do it. We’ve got a team full of winners, we’ve just bought in a player who has won the World Cup [Mac Allister], another who has won things in Germany [Szoboszlai].
“We’ve got a winning mentality and our ambition this season is to go and win the league. We are not going to be shy about that and nor should we. Our expectation is to be in and around it come the turn of the year. We look back at last season as a huge disappointment because with the quality of the players we’ve got, we should be challenging every year for the title.”
Calls for new midfielders to be brought to Liverpool are only growing louder on the back of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, though Alexander-Arnold admitted he is ready to step into this are on a permanent basis if asked to completely ditch his defensive duties.
“It’s something I’d be up for and it’s something I’ll enjoy playing, but it’s not my decision,” he told Sky Sports. “If and when that decision does come, I will learn on the job and try and make it work. We need to try and get as close to perfection as possible, and that’s difficult. There’s times when we are going to lose the ball and it’s going to be easier for Ibou [Konate] to go to right-back and I slot into a centre-back role.
“I enjoy making things happen, getting on the ball and helping my team win games. Doing that from a central area helps me get more out of the passing range and I can dictate the game more from the middle of the pitch. I’ve always been told over the past few seasons to press high, so it’s easier to transition, but if they do go down our left-hand-side, it’s a long way back!”