Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been superb at times and have been equally mediocre at the same time this season. The games against Burnley and Bournemouth will remind Klopp of the number of shortcomings that the squad is carrying at the moment and it will not come as a surprise that the manager decides to jump into the transfer market for some additions. Though they are just 6 points off the top of the table, Klopp will want to add players who can have an effect in the second half of the season and one such player who is linked with a move to Anfield recently is the Brazilian sensation, Thiago Maia.
The 19-year old Santos midfielder is one of the most important players for the club this season having started every game for the side so far. He has 60 senior appearances for the Brazilian outfit while also getting himself into the Brazil U23 nation side recently, helping them to some important results. He is one of the most sought out players in world football at the moment but is he a requirement at Anfield?
A central midfielder by trait, Maia is comfortable sitting back in the midfield to dictate the game just in front of the back four. His biggest asset is his tackling abilities in dangerous areas. He has a peculiar eye for a danger that allows him to rip the danger out at an infant stage helping his side improve their defensive stability. He is a decent dribbler who can find his way out of a tight spot while his vision and execution also allow him to set his teammates up on goal in the final third.
However, at 19, he is not a player who can walk into the first team at the club which makes him less of a requirement at the moment. The likes of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson have been playing deep roles his season for Liverpool with Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum occupying the central midfield areas. All four players have been in superb form this season helping Liverpool dominate games even against the best sides in the competitions. But their games against Burnley and Bournemouth showed a particular weakness in the squad that needs to be solved.
Klopp will have to spend on a defensive midfielder who will add some mettle to the Liverpool midfield and though Maia is a player who can do that, it is too early in his career to assume that role in a club as big as Liverpool. The expectations will surely wear him down making it tougher for him to have an impact at Anfield. He is a top class player who can help Liverpool in the long term but at the moment, the Reds need an experienced player who can walk into the first team when needed later this season.
Do you think Maia is an immediate requirement for Liverpool this season?