Liverpool, with Arne Slot as head coach, are trying to move from the Jurgen Klopp era to a more possession-oriented football, with a little leverage in the midfield.
As a defensive midfielder to provide a starting point for this, the club tried to acquire Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
However, after persuasion from Real Sociedad, he decided to stay in Spain. In the opening game against Ipswich Town, Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was given the same position and his performance showed promise.
Although a defensive midfielder is not a realistic prospect in this summer’s transfer window, it remains a possibility to approach the ideal candidate this winter or next summer.
Stephen Warnock, who played left-back for Liverpool during his playing days, has recommended England midfielder Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace.
“I think they will make signings, I really do,”
“I think there will be a couple of players to come into the football club.”
“I know they were linked with Zubimendi and there was a lot of talk around that. I upset a few Crystal Palace fans by suggesting, if I was Liverpool, then I would be looking at Adam Wharton to play that six.”
“Everything goes through that holding midfield player. That’s the way they want everything to play. I know Gravenberch played well in the second half, but in the first half, he struggled in that position. It wasn’t until the Ipswich players fatigued and fell off the pace a little bit that he started to find a little bit of freedom.”
“The issue with Gravenberch is that his form last season has been up and down. Can you trust him as well? He has had a few injuries in the past few years. You look at that and you go ‘do you have another replacement for him?’ Someone who can naturally play in that position.”