Everybody at Soccer FanCast is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. We’re sending our ideas and prayers to their mates, households, teammates and family members.
Liverpool have not made any midfield signings this summer time after Jurgen Klopp’s profitable rebuild of 2023, welcoming Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo to the squad.
One of many hallmarks of FSG’s possession has been expertly deliberate switch exercise, with the Reds hardly ever lacking the mark as they make shrewd signings or offload a participant who has struggled to carry out as they as soon as did.
Final summer time, Liverpool have been anticipated to take a position closely after Klopp determined to name time on his historic profession because the membership’s supervisor, however Federico Chiesa was the one addition, becoming a member of for a cut-price £12.5m charge as he approached the ultimate 12 months of his contract with Juventus.
Liverpool went towards the grain of public opinion, content material with their fold, however they did attempt to signal Martin Zubimendi from Actual Sociedad, solely to fail to persuade the Spain worldwide to depart Basque Nation.
Why Liverpool needed Martin Zubimendi
When Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left Liverpool to go to Saudi Arabia in offers which mixed for a complete of £52m, it was essential that Liverpool bolstered their ranks with new high quality.
They may have missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, each becoming a member of Chelsea in high-profile strikes, however Liverpool will not remorse such misses in hindsight.
Mac Allister and Endo held down the fort remarkably properly, however one 12 months on, a recognised beginning quantity six was wanted to suit Slot’s system, and Zubimendi match the invoice.
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old rejected Liverpool’s advances, along with his imminent switch to Arsenal irritating to witness. Nonetheless, the failed try has been tempered significantly by Ryan Gravenberch’s meteoric rise.
Ryan Gravenberch within the Premier League | ||
---|---|---|
Stats (* per recreation) | 23/24 | 24/25 |
Matches (begins) | 26 (12) | 37 (37) |
Objectives | 1 | 0 |
Assists | 0 | 4 |
Touches* | 28.8 | 66.5 |
Move completion | 83% | 89% |
Key passes* | 0.6 | 0.7 |
Dribbles* | 0.9 | 1.0 |
Ball recoveries* | 2.8 | 5.2 |
Tackles + interceptions* | 1.5 | 3.5 |
Duels (received)* | 2.8 (47%) | 5.0 (57%) |
Stats through Sofascore |
Gravenberch was unbelievable in a brand new position throughout the 2024/25 marketing campaign, refashioned by Slot.
Nonetheless, there is not any query that he appeared drained towards the tip of the time period, and thus it is comprehensible that Liverpool signal a brand new midfielder to contest for that beginning spot within the deep-lying midfield berth.
Liverpool submit bid for brand spanking new midfielder
In line with experiences from Spain, Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen in submitting official presents for Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado.
The 21-year-old, who graduated from the famed La Masia academy, has turn out to be a family title over the previous 12 months at Camp Nou, along with his silky performances within the centre in flip drawing suitors who is perhaps trying to benefit from Hansi Flick’s packed midfield.
Certainly, valued at €40m (£35m), Barcelona are anticipated to contemplate the bids as they appear to ease their ongoing monetary issues.
Why Liverpool need Marc Casado
Casado is in the beginning of a promising profession, along with his intelligence, technical high quality on the ball and keenness in defensive phases suggesting he could possibly be a implausible addition to a Liverpool squad already properly stocked in midfield.
Praised for his “unbelievable season” by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, Casado battled his manner into outstanding standing inside Flick’s first-team squad, clinching the La Liga title in his first time period as an everyday.
He began 27 matches throughout La Liga and the Champions League final season, instrumental in establishing this new period at La Blaugrana. Damage lower his season brief, nonetheless, with the setback taking part in into the present rumours, for Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Marc Bernal have all performed necessary elements since.
He impressed along with his calculated passing and confidence in successful possession again, finishing 90% of his passes and successful 58% of his floor duels, as per Sofascore.
With such a talent set, Liverpool would possibly lastly be capable of signal their very own model of Zubimendi, one whose youthful and fewer developed abilities could possibly be wrought into the form that Slot needs.
His lengthy ball-playing model definitely differs from Gravenberch’s, ranked as he was among the many high 7% of midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues final time period for passes tried, the highest 8% for go completion, the highest 10% for assists and the highest 9% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
On this method, his similarities with Arsenal-bound Zubimendi are underscored.
Liverpool have already run checks on a extra refined model of the two-cap Spain worldwide, who’s his compatriot moreover, and thus will likely be assured that they’d get their mitts on the appropriate sort of participant in Casado, one who might jockey for a beginning berth with Gravenberch over the approaching years.
He is scarcely into his skilled profession, however already Casado has demonstrated that his abilities are greatest utilised from that deep midfield position, although his passing and athleticism lend themselves to a makeshift right-back service, if and when referred to as upon.
Marc Casado – Profession Stats by Postion (Barca & Barca B) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Place | Apps | Objectives | Assists |
Deep-lying midfield | 100 | 1 | 6 |
Proper-back | 11 | – | 2 |
Central midfield | 5 | – | – |
Information through Transfermarkt |
Zubimendi would have been a superb addition, nevertheless it wasn’t to be. Former Spain supervisor, Luis de la Fuente, described the La Actual star as one of many “greatest central midfielders on the earth” after his half in successful his nation the EURO 2024.
Nonetheless, Casado can be a less expensive addition with immense potential to succeed in after which eclipse his countryman’s degree. Liverpool have loads of midfield choices and thus will not bear a lot frustration over lacking out on Zubimendi, who will value the Gunners one thing within the area of £51m.
Although FSG will not be specializing in strengthening Liverpool’s midfield within the switch market this summer time, there is not any query that if the appropriate alternative arises, Hughes will push forward to safe a shrewd signing.
And Casado might show an astute addition certainly, with the Reds already inserting an official supply as they appear to tempt the Spanish champions to money in.
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