Liverpool are flying excessive this time period, and are wanting like severe candidates to win the Premier League at this stage. Arne Slot’s males sit on the prime of the tree at Christmas, with 39 factors to their identify and a sport in hand.
Their star man this time period has, in fact, been Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star has scored 18 occasions and has 15 assists to his identify in 24 video games throughout all competitions. He has been distinctive. Ryan Gravenberch has additionally thrived this time period, in a brand new function as a quantity six. Peter Crouch defined he has been “top notch all season” as a deeper midfielder.
To enrich the Dutchman, Liverpool are eyeing up a brand new addition in midfield as they proceed their title cost.
Liverpool’s midfield goal
The participant in query right here is Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez. It has been a powerful season thus far for the midfielder in Portugal, and he has now been linked with a transfer away from the membership.
Based on a report from Anfield Watch, Liverpool scouts have been ‘have been utterly blown away’ by the 22-year-old midfielder. The report explains it was assumed that the Reds went to look at his teammate, Alan Varela, however Gonzalez has caught the attention.
Initially a graduate of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy, there’s a buyback clause in his deal for the La Liga giants. That price is believed to be round £50m, and it might price Liverpool the same price in the event that they want to pry him away from Porto themselves.
Described as a “massive expertise” and the “inheritor to Busquets” by Spanish soccer skilled Domagoj Kostanjšak, the Reds could be getting a artful participant right here.
Why Gonzalez could be a great signing
Upon listening to that Gonzalez is a La Masia graduate, that will properly pique Liverpool fan’s curiosity within the participant.
It’s no secret that the expertise to come back out of Barca’s academy is other-worldly. He additionally comes from a prestigious footballing household. His father, Fran Gonzalez, is a Deportiva La Coruna legend, enjoying 559 occasions for the membership in a few of their greatest years.
Transferring the main target again to the 22-year-old, his expertise is simple, and he’s having a incredible season for Porto. A flexible midfielder, he has performed 24 occasions, scoring 5 targets and grabbing a handful of assists too.
Gonzalez is a high-energy participant who can play in a number of positions as a midfielder. One in every of his greatest traits is his urgent capability. The Spaniard is not going to cease working and pressuring the opponents, one thing which led to his purpose towards Arouca earlier within the season.
The centre of midfield was a place Liverpool had been hoping to strengthen in Slot’s first summer time switch window. They had been chasing one other Spanish midfielder over the summer time, Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. Nonetheless, the participant determined to remain the place he was and rejected the supply.
Now, it appears the Reds are turning their consideration to his countryman Gonzalez. While the Porto man is much more versatile and enjoys getting ahead extra, they don’t seem to be too dissimilar statistically, consequently famous as ‘comparable gamers’ by FBref in final time period’s Champions League.
Numerical comparisons will be drawn from their numbers in that prestigious competitors. Firstly, tackles and interceptions are one thing Zubimendi barely edges, with 3.16 per sport in comparison with 2.4 for Gonzalez.
The Actual Sociedad man additionally made barely extra progressive passes per sport on common, with 5.44 in comparison with 2.8 for the Porto quantity 16. Nonetheless, he created barely extra possibilities, with 1.6 on common. In distinction, Zubimendi created 0.63 possibilities per sport.
Gonzalez vs. Zubimendi key stats 2023/24 UCL | ||
|---|---|---|
Stat (per 90) | Gonzalez | Zubimendi |
Tackles and interceptions | 2.4 | 3.16 |
Ball recoveries | 3.6 | 6.71 |
Aerial duels gained | 2 | 1.77 |
Progressive passes | 2.8 | 5.44 |
Probabilities created | 1.6 | 0.63 |
Stats from FBref | ||
Actually, the similarities are there between the 2 gamers. If the Reds make a transfer for Gonzalez, it could be paying homage to the try at signing Zubimendi final summer time and reveals their intent at strengthening in midfield.
Nonetheless, you possibly can argue as a consequence of his versatility, it’s truly a greater deal for the Merseysiders. He’ll permit Slot to have much more tactical flexibility, with Gonzalez, who thrives as an eight, in a position to fill in as a six or perhaps a 10 as properly.
Regardless, for round £50m this might be a fantastic transfer for the Reds. Gonzalez was described as a “pure pleasure to look at” by soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig, and this transfer might be the factor Liverpool wants to assist them recover from the road within the title race.
Associated
Liverpool might lose “world-class” star to Spurs in terrible Sterling repeat
Tottenham might be concerned with signing one among Liverpool’s key gamers in 2025.
