Jurgen Klopp is expected to spend big this summer after giving fans a taste of how good this Liverpool side can be.
Liverpool still have the gigantic matter of a Champions League final in Kiev to think about but plans are already afoot to bring in some fresh faces.
The Reds had already secured the signature of midfielder Naby Keita from RB Leipzig and the fact that the Germans missed out on Champions League football for 2018/19 means the initial outlay will be £52m, as opposed to £59m.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has been impressed with what he has seen of Keita but tells SportsJOE that Klopp’s side ‘could still do with a strong, holding midfielder’. He adds:
“Virgil Van Dijk is a defensive colossus but they could do with getting someone in to partner him. Loris Karius seems to have won the No.1 spot too but it would be no harm looking at goalkeepers again.”
“They won’t need to bring in too many players. For Klopp, it should just be a continuation of the work he has already put in place.
“Their form against the lesser sides would still be a concern and that is where they feel the loss of Philippe Coutinho. He often had that guile when Liverpool were faced with a packed defence.”
That guile may come from Keita and France international Nabil Fekir. The 24-year-old Lyon star [pictured below] is reportedly Liverpool’s next big transfer ambition and he told France Football that he will assess his options once the Ligue 1 season is wrapped. He is said to be available for £62m and has already been compared to former Reds gem Philippe Coutinho.
Klopp seems set to shore up his back more over the summer too. Roma should have been done and dusted in their Champions League semi-final when Liverpool led 5-0 in the first leg but the Reds somehow managed to concede six goals and get through to Kiev 7-6 on aggregate.
Andy Robertson has locked down the left-back spot, Trent Alexander Arnold is not the finished product yet but has already impressed many observers while Virgil Van Dijk has proved worth the wait.
Liverpool have been linked to Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker all season but he looks set to remain with the Italians. The next best option is a solid goalkeeper that is surely set to move on from relegated Stoke City – Jack Butland. The England international would be arriving to take the No.1 spot but should not break the bank. His capture should see Simon Mignolet move on.
Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan are no-one’s long-term solution to partner Van Dijk in the centre of the Reds defence. Harry Maguire has been linked to the club but Liverpool are said to be monitoring the Stefan De Vrij situation. The Dutch defender seems certain to leave Lazio but Liverpool could pip Inter Milan to get him in beside his fellow Dutchman in the Liverpool back four.
That looks to be a very exciting XI and anyone believing Jordan Henderson is lucky to be there, the likes of James Milner, Adam Lallana, Gigi Wijnaldum or Alex Oxlade Chamerlain could all step in to take his place.
Other players linked with Liverpool include Christian Pulisic (Dortmund), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham), Marco Asension (Real Madrid) and Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen).
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