It’s difficult to say with much conviction for a lot of reasons given how young they are. Especially for Thuram as any analysis of how Thuram has played for Nice is massively impacted by the fact he’s had 5 different managers in his 4 years there and they have used him slightly differently. But if you’re looking at evolution it appears from the various scouting reports that he has started to play a deeper role. One I read suggested that Galtier team’s was unbalanced with overloads on the right so he was often used to bolster the left side…essentially the Fabs role in the midfield 2x2 box.
Kone seems like a more traditional box to box player who has been compared to Bissouma’s performances at Brighton. This suggests a best fit as one of the two 8s in our old midfield 3, but maybe less suited to either of the roles in the new 2x2 (too constrained to replace Fab and not quite sophisticated enough for the more attacking role of either of the advanced 8s)
Either way, as I said a few days ago, I think it will be really instructive to watch the French U21s this summer to see how their manager pairs them
I take only intermittent interest in the youth tournaments, but with the links we’re seeing for this window, this year’s EURO U21s will be worth a watch.
There are a bunch of relevent players playing for Holland - Van Der Ven and Van Den Berg as CBs, Gravenberch in midfield. The younger Timber brother in CM as well, which I dont know if the links to us are serious or more just along the line of emerging players to keep an eye on. They also have Brobbey up top who I’ve linked to Utd.
I dont know if our squad has been officially announced yet, but Elliott is likely to play as is Colwill, as are less exciting links like Leicester’s Thomas and Connor Gallagher. Morton has been on the fringes of the side and so may be involved depending on how many players make themselves unavailable.
I know none of the German players other than Moukoko. Do any of our German crew have any insights if there is anyone else identified as someone to watch?
I dont think we’re even unreliably linked with any of the players from Spain or Portugal but they always have players worth watching.
It’s a good question, but tough to answer for me. I would need to see the names. Even then, it is unclear what Klopp might have in mind. For example, some have suggested that Klopp would turn Gravenberch or Thuram into a number 6, but as things stand I see both of those players as more of an 8. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Personally, I don’t think we can make effective use of 3 new CMs. Sure, if those 3 were Rice, Bellingham and MacAlister we could, but we not shopping in that market for 3 new players in a unit in which we already have 6 players.
We know we’re going to need to make additions at CB sooner than later though with Matip going either this summer or next, and Gomez not having done much to earn the faith (of the fans at least) that he’s a suitable 4th choice.
So for me, it’s option 3, with a preference for the next midfielder in being one who can challenge Fab and be a foil for Trent at the base of the midfield.
