Liverpool were dealt a bitter blow in their transfer plans, when Jurgen Klopp’s former team Borussia Dortmund announced the signing of Reds’ long-time target Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Monchengladbach.
News of the deal, reported to be around £10.3 million, will have come as a blow for Liverpool fans, who had seen the club get linked with the German for an elongated period of time.
Holding midfielder position has somewhat been a worry for Liverpool this season. They have looked a completely different team when captain Jordan Henderson hasn’t been available. Emre Can hasn’t looked comfortable operating as the deepest midfielder and with Lucas Leiva getting older, the team looks severely off the pace in that area.
Klopp has identified this problem in the squad and the Reds have been linked with several defensive midfielders in the past few months, with Dahoud among them. However, with him joining Dortmund, we compile a list of three players who Liverpool could bring in instead of Dahoud.
The 22-year old has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season with his energetic displays in the middle of the park for RB Leipzig. Keita has been the driving force in the newly promoted German outfit’s amazing season that sees them sitting comfortably at 2nd position in the Bundesliga table.
The Guinean has been compared to French midfielder N’Golo Kante due to his tireless work-rate in the midfield. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Keita is a much more all-round player than the Chelsea workhorse. Keita is the second-most creative player at Leipzig this season, having assisted 6 goals and scored 4. A brilliant 55% take-on success rate along with 57 interceptions from 21 appearances so far is a perfect blend for an all-action midfielder.
Liverpool have expressed interest in the Guinea international, but it also believed that Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on Keita. If the Reds want to avoid a similar situation as Dahoud, they will need to act quickly in the market.
A versatile operator, Corentin Tolisso is one of the most supremely talentedFrench players to have come through in recent times. He has been one of the main reasons for Olympique Lyon finding themselves at 4th position in Ligue1.
An all-round midfielder, the 22-year old is good with the ball at his feet, having won 56% of his take-ons, and is equally good with his distribution (84% pass success rate). He is a force in the air as well, having won 47 headed duels this season in 24 appearances. Tolisso has also chipped in with 6 goals for his team and has set up 3 assists. The fact that he can operate as a right-back with equal comfort, makes him a great option to have among the ranks.
The 22-year old recently earned a call-up to the French national team owing to his performances and looks set for big things. The fact that he has been so brilliant for a team that has struggled for defensive solidity, makes one wonder what heights he can scale under the right tutelage. Klopp will be able to provide that.
One of the most underrated stories of the season, that has gone completely under the radar due to AS Monaco’s exploits in the Ligue 1 – OGC Nice have lost just 2 games this season in the French top division; against Caen and Monaco. One main reason for their wonderful performance this term has been 22-year old midfielder Wylan Cyprien.
The 22-year old has been a joy to watch for Nice. Cyprien has completed 89% of his passes this season and has won a whopping 87% of his 63 take-on attempts. Only PSG’s Thiago Motta has completed more passes than Cyprien this season and the youngster also brings in an added tenacity to the midfield with his tackling. The second-most creative player in the Nice squad, Cyprien has scored 8t times this term and has registered 3 assists as well.
While questions remain if he will able to make the cut in the Premier League, Cyprien ticks all the boxes for Klopp and Liverpool to make a move in the summer window and they should try to sign the midfielder.
*All Stats Taken From Squawka.com
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