The midfield is really in the wars right now. I think Thiago, Hendo and Fab have been fairly fit this season, but around those three we have Milly, Melo, Ox, Curtis, Keita, who have been doing the injury relay all season. Elliot, Fabio and Bajcetic have all been reasonably available as well, but will have to see how some of those injured players recover over the next month. Too much to rely on those youngsters right now.
I think Klopp would be taking a bit of a gamble not replenishing midfield stocks this window. It could be another loan if we have big midfield plans for the summer. Which would mean the fans not getting what they want.
Iām happy with the signing of Gakpo and Iām looking forward to seeing what he can do to help us. I suspect he would have looked at Ox on the left from the stands yesterday, and would have immediately thought he can improve us right away.
Iām not down on Ox, but he has had too many injuries and needs a summer move. Good luck to him.
I completely agree we need to add a midfielder, asap. Teams are cutting right through us. The money is silly. Caicedo should be a 50M player, and thatās with the ridiculous Prem tax. If he is touted at 70M, or more, it is getting silly.
At that point we might be thinking of Kone, Khephren Thuram or Joao Gomes. Or someone else.
Whoever it is, we need an athlete in there now. Does the miles. Does the sprints. Closes down the space. Gets his tackles in. Gives it simple.
If we add that player then the likes of Thiago will shine all the more.
Given the choice, Iād have liked it to be the other way around as midfield looks like a wider and deeper hole than left wing at this moment but Iāll take anything to rescue this season.
That said, if we donāt manage to get a midfield equivalent of Januaryās Luis Diaz, we wonāt stand much chance of doing anything significant this season.
Jude Bellinghamās father wants the England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder to join Liverpool , with Real Madrid and Manchester City also seeking the 19-year-oldās signature. (Football Insider)
I wouldnāt write it off 100%, but I believe thatās it regarding incoming transfer this window.
Maybe someone leaves.
Weāll just have to find the best way(s) of putting together a more balanced side for more consistent performances/results and hopefully do a little 20/21 type of finish.
Koopmeiners sounds interesting:
āCapable of playing box-to-box or in front of the defence, Koopmeiners could offer competition for Fabinho whilst being able to contribute going forward.ā
Rumours all seem very unreliable, but I am swinging in and out of deep depression this week and need some things to look forward to.
Is anyone that has watched the obligatory 10 games willing to opine on the young Dutch lad?
If we do sign someone, I really do hope itās in the next week or so, and not some mad Melo type punt at the end of the window.
Iāve not seen anything of Koopmeiners - down as a set piece specialist too. Only moved to Italy in Summer 2021, and played at the WC for Holland. Heās been dubbed the best Defensive Midfielder in Holland - not sure whether thatās a high bar or not. Heās also at the right age (25 next month). Iām all for a random signing like that - assuming heās not made from stale wotsists like the rest of our midfield.
Klopp - āOk, what about that guy that just won the World Cup?ā
FSG - āStill too expensiveā
Klopp - āOkā¦I also quite like the lad at Brightonā¦Caicedo I think he name isā
FSG - āKlopp, weāve talked about this weāve already spent our budget for this windowā
Klopp - āBut we need a midfielder boss, the fans been calling for 1ā¦Iāve been calling for 1ā¦what about that lad who was at Sporting you wouldnāt sanction who is now at Wolves?ā
FSG - āIām afraid youāll have to look to balance the books, Weāve just handed Mo a new 350k a week deal for the next 3 yearsā
Klopp - āWhat about that Dutch lad no oneās ever heard of? Heāll only cost 30m and heās better than what we have?ā
FSG - āIf you can get him on a loan with a view to a perm move itās a done dealā
He appeared in every game, but mostly as a sub. Based on those appearances he looked to be considered one of the first options off the bench, which given this is hardly a Seedorf/Davids/De Boer quality midifield isnt a great endorsement.
I didnāt watch enough of the WC to know whether him being first sub on during games was a like for like change, or tactical. It may be that he was brought on to sure up midfield and replace more attacking players.
As much as we all want the big fancy signings that we think will make the difference (such as footballers of the quality of Seedorf, Davids De boer), getting one in (Jude/Enzo etc) wonāt be enough and we need other, cheaper, CMās to come in, that have potential (in the clubs eyes - what we think matters little).
Something about carrying pianoās etc. The unfashionable footballers are needed to do the dirty work - thatās what weāre missing right now, and other than Bjacetic, none of the other younger CMās in the squad look capable of it (Carvallho, Elliot, Jones). Maybe Morton next season will be in the squad.
Re. Melo - heāll be back at Juve at the end of May.
