Promising Barcelona midfielder Gavi is reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool this summer.
Gavi's deal runs out at the end of next season and the 17-year-old's camp is in a contract stand-off with the Spanish giants. According to reports, Barca are unwilling to raise their current their offer any further with the teenager supposedly asking for a significantly higher figure after becoming a key player under Xavi Hernandez.
As per Gerard Romero, who covers the Catalan club, the Reds are one of several clubs who have tabled a bid for the exciting talent. Gavi, who is already a Spanish international, is one of the most in-demand young players in Europe, with Barca keen to tie him down to a new deal.
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So, if Gavi was to make the move to Liverpool in the summer, what sort of impact could he have at Anfield over the next three seasons? We simulated the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns with him in Liverpool's squad and this is what happened.
We 'signed' Gavi for Liverpool in the summer of 2022
To set up this simulation, we used the Football Manager 2022 editor to arrange for Gavi to join the Reds at the start of the 2022/23 season using FM22 to run the simulation. This is what Gavi's in-game profile looks like on FM22.
He shows plenty of versatility in his game being able to play defensive midfield, attacking midfield and out wide. Gavi's best attributes are his Technique (16), Flair (17), Agility (15), Dribbling (15), First Touch (15) and Vision (15), showing just how talented the Spaniard is at such a young age, with plenty of potential to improve under the right manager at the right team.
Gavi's performances at Liverpool in the 2022/23 season
Gavi made a total of 44 appearances for the Reds in his debut season, with 36 of those coming as starts under Jurgen Klopp. He scored one goal and registered nine assists as he was rotated with Thiago, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita in midfield.
Gavi averaged a match rating of 7.02 in all competitions, ranking him as the 15th best performer in the squad in the 2022/23 season. His statistics highlight the quality and potential for improvement that he could make at Liverpool, registering more assists than Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Henderson in his first season at Anfield.
At the end of the 2022/23 season, Football Manager 2022 put together an overall best Liverpool XI, based on performances, statistics and other metrics. This is what the Reds' best XI looked like at the end of the 2022/23 season as predicted by Football Manager 2022.
Full Liverpool best XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Lewandowski.
Gavi failed to make the best XI for Liverpool in his debut season, as Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho continued their strong partnership and form in midfield. The Reds brought in Robert Lewandowski in attack whilst Joe Gomez returned alongside Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Liverpool finished second in the Premier League in Gavi's debut season on Merseyside, nine points behind rivals Manchester City. The Reds qualified for the Champions League comfortably, but draws to Fulham, Newcastle United and Everton cost them crucial points in the title race.
Klopp's side had the second-best defensive record in the league and best attacking record with 72 goals scored and 30 goals conceded in their 38 league games. Compared to the 2020/21 season, Liverpool finished one position higher, with 18 more points and a better goal difference by +16.
Liverpool managed to win the Carabao Cup for a second successive season after Roberto Firmino's goal made the difference in a 1-0 win against Manchester United at Wembley. The Reds were knocked out in the FA Cup quarter-final in extra-time, losing 1-0 to Chelsea, whilst they crashed out of the Champions League earlier than anticipated after a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Juventus in the round of 16.
Gavi's performance at Liverpool in the 2023/24 season
Gavi made a total of 32 appearances for the Reds as he became a regular starter under Klopp alongside Henderson and Fabinho in midfield. The Spaniard improved his goal-scoring numbers, bagging five goals and registering six assists in a more productive season for the former Barca talent.
Gavi improved his average match rating in his second season at Anfield, averaging a rating of 7.30 in all competitions he was involved in. That match rating ranked him as the 8th best performer in the squad in the 2023/24 season, highlighting the improvement in consistency and quality made by the now 19-year-old.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Football Manager 2022 put together an overall best Liverpool XI, based on performances, statistics and other metrics. This is what the Reds' best XI looked like at the end of the 2023/24 season as predicted by Football Manager 2022.
Full Liverpool best XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson; Fabinho, Gavi, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Lewandowski.
Gavi replaced Thiago in the starting line-up for Liverpool after an impressive second season on Merseyside. His performances reduced the first-team minutes for Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Keita.
Liverpool finished third in the Premier League, below both Manchester United and Manchester City, despite comfortably qualifying for the Champions League yet again. The Reds finished below United on goal difference by -2, but still had the second-best defensive record in the league with just five losses in 38 games.
The ageing attack at Liverpool could not produce similar levels of output to United and City, with Salah the only Reds' forward to break 20 goals in the 2023/24 season. Compared to the 2022/23 season, Liverpool finished one position lower, with four less points and the same goal difference of +42.
Liverpool were knocked out in the third round of the Carabao Cup in a shock 3-0 defeat to Brentford as Klopp rotated his line-up heavily. The Reds managed to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League but suffered defeat to Chelsea on penalties and Bayern Munich as they ended the season without any silverware.
Gavi's performance at Liverpool in the 2024/25 season
Gavi had his best season for Liverpool in his third year on Merseyside, scoring nine goals and registering 19 assists in all competitions. The Spaniard made a total of 55 appearances in the 2024/25 season as he became one of the first names on the team sheet at the club.
Gavi recorded the second-most assists in the Premier League (13), along with scoring seven goals from central midfield as his output and quality in providing and finishing chances reached a new level. The now 20-year-old averaged a match rating of 7.52, higher than any other player in the Liverpool squad.
At the end of the 2024/25 season, Football Manager 2022 put together an overall best Liverpool XI, based on performances, statistics and other metrics. This is what the Reds' best XI looked like at the end of the 2024/25 season as predicted by Football Manager 2022.
Full Liverpool best XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Fabinho, Robertson; Casemiro, Gavi, Otavio; Salah, Diaz, Jota.
Gavi kept his place in Liverpool's best XI in the 2024/25 season, as Fabinho dropped into centre-back alongside Van Dijk, making way for Casemiro and Otavio in midfield. Sadio Mane and Lewandowski were replaced in attack by the in-form Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz who scored a combined total of 44 goals in all competitions.
Liverpool finished the Premier League 2024/25 season as champions, five points ahead of both Man City and Arsenal. The Reds lost just six games in their 38 league games, winning more games than any other team (28).
Gavi was instrumental in helping Liverpool win the Premier League, being voted Young Player of the Season after his 20-goal contributions from midfield. Compared to the 2023/24 season, Klopp's men finished two positions higher, with five more points and a better goal difference by +3.
Liverpool were knocked out of the Carabao Cup fourth round by Man City after losing 1-0 at Anfield, with a certain Raheem Sterling scoring the only goal of the game. But the Reds did manage to complete a historic treble after winning the FA Cup, beating Man United 3-1 at Wembley with goals from Salah (2) and Elliott, before beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final 1-0 with Elliott scoring a 90th-minute winner.
Overall, our Football Manager 2022 simulation suggests Gavi could become a key player for Liverpool by the time he turns 20. Our simulation shows Gavi could make significant improvements and progression at Anfield season-by-season after signing for the Reds in the summer transfer window ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The young talent could initially provide a good quality back-up and rotation option for Klopp before claiming his spot in the first team ahead of the likes of Jones and Keita.
Do you want Liverpool to sign Gavi this summer? Let us know in the comments!
