Liverpool, who were clearly less athletic in midfield last season, concentrated on strengthening their midfield this summer. Alexis Mc Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch have been brought in, and Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are developing well.
Still, the possibility of further reinforcements cannot be dismissed. Various midfielders have been reportedly linked to Fluminense midfielder Andre, and it has been suggested that the club may seek to acquire him in the transfer market this winter.
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool, Chelsea, and West Ham United will all be in the running for Inter Milan’s Turkish midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
Although the transfer fee required is estimated to be 50 million euros, the 29-year-old midfielder, who plays a central role at the club, has no intention of selling and is willing to fight with the club beyond next season.
The player will turn 30 next February, but he has a contract that runs until June 2027, and there are no signs of him leaving the club at this point.
More than Liverpool and Chelsea, West Ham are keen on acquiring him and were also in action this summer. The Turkish midfielder is being eyed as a replacement for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who had received interest from Manchester City.
Back in Jurgen Klopp’s team, it is unlikely that they would invest in a player who is passing the peak of his career. And €50 million is a lot of money, and it is not a price one would pay for a midfielder who may only be able to play a few more seasons.
The same goes for Chelsea and West Ham. Despite his impressive performances so far this season, with seven goals and one assist in 17 games, there are promising youngsters available for less money, and there is almost no chance that Chelsea, in particular, will stick with a player over the age of 30 as they look to rejuvenate their squad.
The midfielder is likely to remain in Italy, where he is familiar with the game, after next season. If he is to land in the Premier League, West Ham is the realistic path, but what will his departure be…?