Liverpool are almost certain to be a very different team by the time next season rolls around.
The Reds are already being linked with a host of potential new signings for the summer transfer window. Midfield seems to be the area where most of the rumours are focused, but whether any of them will actually end up happening, though, is another matter.
It’s not just incomings that are the topic of discussion, with potential departures also doing rounds on the Liverpool rumour mill. The Reds could see some of their current midfield options depart on free transfers.
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Liverpool currently have three players whose contracts expire in the summer - Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner. While Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain seem almost certain to leave for nothing, there have been rumours that Klopp is keen to hand Milner another one-year extension.
Back to incomings, and the names that are doing the rounds the most in terms of speculation over a move to Liverpool are Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount. Bellingham is well known to be the Reds’ number one target for the summer, while Mount’s name keeps surfacing over a possible addition to Klopp’s squad.
Signing Bellingham would certainly be a dream for Klopp and Liverpool - but Borussia Dortmund are likely to demand a fee in excess of £100m for his services.
Mount is reportedly likely to leave Chelsea this summer due to talks over an extension stalling. With his current deal set to expire at the end of next season, Liverpool may well look to capitalise on the situation and get a cut-price deal.
Another midfielder linked with Liverpool is Wolves star Matheus Nunes. The 24-year-old was credited as a possible target for the Reds last summer before he left Sporting CP in a £44m deal.
Nunes is known to be a player of interest to Liverpool, but it remains to be seen whether a deal will be completed. Especially as the Reds’ priority will be getting a deal for Bellingham over the line.
But in a dream situation, Klopp would have Bellingham, Mount and Nunes in his midfield options for the 2023/24 season. And that’s not to mention the other players the Kop boss has at his disposal.
Unless something rather unexpected happens, Liverpool would have Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson still involved as the more experienced players in the midfield, not to mention Milner if he ends up staying for another year.
And let’s not forget, Liverpool have some young talent which they still hope to have long careers at Anfield. Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will have had another year under their belts in the Reds' first-team, while Stefan Bajcetic’s rise from youth prospect to first-team regular since the New Year has added another option to Klopp’s midfield.
Liverpool’s dream midfield options for 2023/24: Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Matheus Nunes, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones, James Milner.
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