Liverpool, which is replacing its midfielders more than expected, has welcomed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to the team to replace James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who left the team when their contracts expired.
Just when it seemed the midfield reinforcements were finished, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho’s move to Saudi Arabia was imminent, and rumors of a move to Thiago Alcántara are smoldering.
With as many as six midfielders from last season left to potentially leave the club, Liverpool has been forced to step on the gas in the transfer market to find a midfielder.
With Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia at the top of the list and various other names such as Sofyan Amrabat, Kalvin Phillips, Cheick Doucouré, and Manu Koné, interest in a new veteran midfielder has surfaced.
According to L’Equipe, in addition to Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Al Hilal have expressed interest in Marco Verratti, the Italian midfielder from Paris Saint-Germain, which could be a new destination.
Since arriving in Paris from Pescara in the summer of 2012, Verratti has been the club’s mainstay for more than a decade. He has shown a high level of creativity in the new midfield lineup every season, and at the age of 30, he still holds a regular place in the lineup.
He made 38 appearances last season and is highly regarded in Paris; with a contract remaining through 2026, he is unlikely to be released on the cheap. Nevertheless, his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, seems to be pushing for a move this summer, and the possibility of an escape from France is beginning to emerge.
Of the three clubs, Atletico Madrid is strongly interested and has apparently made inquiries with PSG.
On the other hand, we can say that the probability of Liverpool coming in for the player is zero. PSG will obviously demand a high transfer fee, and at 30 years of age, he is far from being a generational player. Furthermore, defensive midfielders are not his main job, and central midfielders are available in numbers.
If they were to go to the trouble of signing the Italian national team midfielder, they would make the choice to keep Henderson, even against his will.
Although playing at Anfield is a dream come true, could he leave Parc des Princes, where he has spent many years, and seek a new home in Spain or the Middle East?