Three Liverpool stars face a race against time to stop a midfield addition in the next transfer window. As things stand, the Reds will surely move.
Gini Wijnaldum almost certainly leaves Liverpool this summer. His contract expires and it doesn’t look likely that he agrees to a new one.
That necessitates a new signing. Wijnaldum is a key part of the midfield and using the transfer window to replace him seems almost certain.
Almost.
There is a chance Liverpool don’t signing anyone. But it means three Reds stopped the transfer.
Questions
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago are all world-class midfielders. They have nothing to worry about.
Beyond that, though, there are questions over everyone. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, for instance, can’t escape long-term injuries.
Naby Keita seems to play two or three games before his next absence. James Milner is now 34. All three are below Wijnaldum in the pecking order and any new signing likely leaps above them.
But the thing is, we imagine Liverpool would quite like to avoid a new signing. The Athletic says a forward is the priority, while a potential lack of Champions League income will leave them wanting to save money.
Curtis Jones gives them a chance to do just that. They could just hand him a bigger role and call him the Wijnaldum replacement.
That only works if the more senior players prove themselves as quality, reliable options, though. Jones would still be behind them in the pecking order and the midfield, as a whole, would look good.
They have just two months to prove that – it’s a race against time. If they don’t want to see a new midfielder slotting in ahead of them, the next two months are vital.
Continue to struggle and their places are firmly under threat. The pressure is on.
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