Liverpool’s injury woes continue to mount up and that means the calls for reinforcements grow louder from certain sections of the club’s support.
Those inside the club, including Kop boss Jurgen Klopp, remain adamant they won’t panic buy just because of the current spate of problems in midfield and their winless start to the season. They don’t want a repeat of the January window in the 2020-21 season when they brought in Ben Davies - who never played a senior game - and Ozan Kabak who struggled in the Premier League.
But back then they were suffering a more serious problem with key defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all out for the season.
This time they have multiple issues but Thiago will return next month along with Curtis Jones which will give Klopp options. But they do have to wait nervously for results of tests on Naby Keita and if he was to join Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a long-term injury then maybe there might have to be a change of plan for the Reds.
We look at four midfielders they could sign if they have to make a late trolley dash in the market.
Luka Sucic - Red Bull Salzburg
The highly-promising Croatian midfielder is one for the future at 19, that’s for sure and may not be possible to obtain in this window.
But he is a player Liverpool have monitored in the past and can play in different roles in a midfield three which would suit the Reds. He is similar to Jude Bellingham, though. The Reds plan to chase the Borussia Dortmund man next summer so it wouldn’t be likely they’d cough up a huge sum for Sucic now.
Marcelo Brozovic - Inter Milan
The Croatian midfielder has been watched by Manchester United and PSG. At 29, he brings experience as well as quality but he is also not really the age the Reds target big-money signings at.
However, former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider it is still possible. “There is plenty of time in the window left though,” he said. If they want to do a deal for Brozovic, they can get it over the line before the window closes.
“They will have already done their due diligence on players like Brozovic. I’m sure there are a few midfielders they are looking at.”
Youri Tielemans - Leicester City
He’s not been impressive for a while at Leicester but many feel that is because he wants to move away from the King Power Stadium.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with the 25-year-old Belgium man who has previously looked very good in the Premier League. He fits the age profile but it is unlikely Liverpool will spend big on him, especially if United and Arsenal suddenly start a bidding war.
Moises Caicedo - Brighton
The modern world means the Brighton man sent Twitter into a tailspin over the weekend when he liked an Instagram post. It was a cartoon image of the midfielder with three shirts in front of him - Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Like he was agreeing he had a choice to make. He's certainly a man in demand but Brighton are not keen to sell this summer, either.
Jude Bellingham - Borussia Dortmund
Last, but not least. Only mentioned last because, at the time of writing, there is no chance this deal is happening this summer.
Borussia Dortmund have put the word out that the England man is not going anywhere this year because they’ve already lost star striker Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
Liverpool are one of a host of clubs interested in landing him in 12 months time. He is expected to be costly. That is why the Reds are not expected to add in midfield this summer because they want to go for Bellingham next year. It’s why, despite the injuries, it is set to be a quiet end to the transfer window for the Reds.
