Mason Mount may well have be the English midfielder continuing to be linked with Liverpool, though there is a potential option that is seemingly going under the radar.
There is no disputing Mount, a player the Reds are admirers of, would add quality to Jurgen Klopp's midfield as he plots an overhaul of this area of the squad. Conor Gallagher is another Chelsea player Liverpool like, but little is being said regarding another standout, homegrown talent within the division.
Indeed, Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa is an individual who is quietly impressing at his boyhood club as they continue their ascent up the Premier League table. Unleashing his attacking ability from midfield last season under the stewardship of Steven Gerrard, the 21-year-old scored six league goals in a 4-2-3-1 system which saw Gerrard get the best out of the Birmingham-born talent.
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Working under the Liverpool legend was an experience Ramsey certainly made the most of, learning from the very best in his position while continuing his development. "I have been watching clips growing up and the gaffer was probably one of the best at that - a goalscoring midfielder. That's what I want to be," he said after scoring in a 2-0 win over Norwich City in December 2021.
Such praise came back his way after bagging a brace in a 3-3 draw with Leeds United in February of last year, with Gerrard backing the youngster to achieve greatness in the game if he remains grounded in the coming years. “I know the level of the England players, I've been around it, and have enough experience to know it's only a matter of time but let's all be sensible and keep calm about it,” explained the Liverpool icon. "I want him to make his own headlines with his football. He is a top talent, I'm loving every moment of working with him. He is getting stronger with each game because we're giving him the platform to express himself. He is in a wonderful place.”
Fellow Reds great Jamie Carragher has also singled Villa's No.41 out for praise, having watched him score a winning goal versus Southampton earlier this campaign. “I love him. He's a super player," said Carragher. "He doesn't look like a young kid playing in a man's game. I spoke to Gary McAllister before the game, I said to him: 'How good is Ramsey?' And he said he can go right to the top. We're talking about international honours and playing in the Champions League. I think he can certainly play at that level in the next couple of years.”
Capable of operating in various positions across the midfield, Ramsey's versatility could prove invaluable amid a shift in systems from Jurgen Klopp. The inverted full-back approach, which has seen Trent Alexander-Arnold occupying midfield spaces in recent matches against Arsenal and Leeds United, has resulted in Liverpool becoming more aggressive in their build-up play and attacking structure.
Effective at ball carrying from the centre of the pitch, Ramsey has averaged 1.1 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per league game this term, though has also excelled with his defensive duties (2.1 tackles per game, 0.8 interceptions per game). Compare these numbers to Liverpool's young midfield talents of Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic, and there is a clear winner: Elliott (0.6 key passes and 0.6 dribbles; 0.8 tackles per game, 0.5 interceptions per game). Bajcetic (0.4 key passes per game, 0.6 dribbles per game; 0.8 tackles per game and 0.8 interceptions per game).
A fearless attitude when in possession has resulted in the Villa academy graduate scoring two goals and registering three assists in his previous five outings, taking his game to another level under Unai Emery. Boasting 3.33 progressive carries per game in the last year, Ramsey is following closely behind Bernardo Silva (4.07) - a player many consider the best in this department.
Prizing the England under-21 international away from the West Midlands will be no simple task, something Liverpool are likely already aware of. Rewarded for his rapid progress in the form of a new contract last April, lasting until 2027, his current employers will be able to demand a sizeable fee for his services should clubs come calling.
A latest report by GOAL has claimed Ramsey is among the players under consideration by the Reds, and he could well be worth pursuing if his latest displays are anything to go by.
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