Liverpool has promoted a generational change in midfield, which has been an issue in the transfer market this summer, by signing midfielders in their early 20s with high potential, such as Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but has struggled to secure a defensive midfielder.
Unsatisfied with Southampton’s asking price, Liverpool made an attempt to acquire Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, but the player refused to move. Reds immediately went back to Romeo LaVia, but both players decided to go to Chelsea.
The flurry of transfers, even under Jurgen Klopp’s regime, prepared for more drama. Liverpool’s offer for Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo came as a complete surprise.
Once an agreement was reached between the club and Stuttgart, he immediately cleared medical checks and officially became a member of the club.
According to Standard Sport, even with the acquisition of the Japan captain, Liverpool is still looking to strengthen its midfield and may push hard to bring in Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucouré, with Paris Saint-Germain rumored to have been interested as well.
However, the club has lost last year’s ace Wilfred Zaha on a free, and Michael Olise is also waiting to join Chelsea. It is said that the club does not want to lose any more of its main players and has set a valuation of £70 million for the Mali international.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who only joined Crystal Palace last summer and has a contract until 2027, will not come cheap. Still, it is believed that Chelsea can get Lavia for less than the £58 million they would pay Southampton for him.
With the names of other young European midfielders flying around in the media, will Liverpool be able to bring in a defensive midfielder who can be an asset in the mid to long term?