Jurgen Klopp will have some new faces in his Liverpool team next season after the signing of Darwin Nunez was confirmed.
The Reds agreed a deal with Benfica for the 22-year-old to move to Anfield this summer. Jurgen Klopp had made Nunez his top transfer target.
Benfica have been consistent in their demand of a €100m overall package for the Uruguay international. They had initially wanted €80m up front and €20m in bonuses, figures with which Liverpool were reluctant to do business.
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However, Reds sporting director Julian Ward has now helped thrash out a compromise which will see the club spend £64.1m (€75m) in a set fee, with a possible £12.8m (€15m) in appearance-related add-ons and £8.5m (€10m) in success-related bonuses.
With Nunez joining Liverpool, he becomes the second new addition to the Reds squad. Fabio Carvalho completed a move to Liverpool from Fulham, with a £5m deal plus add-ons agreed with the newly-promoted club.
With a busy summer window ahead, Liverpool’s starting line-up for the new season could be very different. In defence, though, there isn’t expected to be much change.
Alisson Becker is the firmly established number one, with Caoimhin Kelleher his understudy. The only possible change to this would be if the latter decides to leave for more game time, but that’s a big if at the moment.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are the two full-backs, while Virgil van Dijk is a mainstay at centre-back. The question becomes who partners him, with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez seasoned at Anfield now.
However, Ibrahima Konate impressed in his first season following a move from RB Leipzig. He could potentially be Van Dijk’s first-choice partner next season.
Into midfield and, unless a new signing walks through the door, it could very much be a familiar trio. Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are the first-choice midfield three, and that is unlikely to change.
Naby Keita, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and James Milner will be options, while new signing Carvalho could come into play, especially if Klopp decides to change formation. The new recruit can operate in a No-10 position in a 4-2-3-1, should the manager opt for a change of tactics.
Then up front we go and we only know for sure only certain starter - Mohamed Salah. The other two positions are going to be interesting.
Luis Diaz was a regular starter on the left wing in the latter half of the season, while Mane moved into the centre. And after Nunez's move from Benfica, he would be expected to go through the middle.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will be the other two options at Klopp’s disposal. Elliott and Carvalho will also be able to be utilised in the forward areas, if need be.
Possible Liverpool XI for 2022/23 (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
