Liverpool have reportedly made a decision not to sign a midfielder in this summer’s transfer window.
According to The Times, Liverpool will instead look to strengthen the position in summer 2023.
The decision is likely to frustrate supporters, who have become accustomed to windows with not much action over recent years.
Despite the big-money signing of Darwin Nunez, that looks set to continue. But with prices higher than ever and with few suitable candidates, Liverpool are making the right call.
Liverpool target Bellingham
It seems plain to everyone that Liverpool only have eyes for Jude Bellingham as their new midfield lynchpin.
There’s good reason for that, too. He’s young yet experienced, he’s English yet has played abroad and most of all he looks to have the ability to dominate the position for a big club.
Obviously all of that attaches a certain price-tag for a player. In Bellingham’s case, it could even be as high as £100m.
With that level of investment planned for the future, it would be potentially reckless for Liverpool to spend elsewhere.
No need to panic
With Liverpool seemingly identifying Bellingham, any other signing this summer would be in addition to, not instead of the 18-year-old.
It could be argued that Liverpool do in fact need two midfielders in the long-term. But for now, any player brought in would be a placeholder to a certain degree.
Looking at the kind of quality that Liverpool are, there aren’t many players on the market that could fit the bill. There was a clear desire to bring Aurelien Tchouameni, and perhaps he would have been instead of Bellingham, but he ended up at Real Madrid.
Otherwise, even slightly lower-profile options like Matheus Nunes would cost Liverpool over £50m.
Nunes is an excellent player, but it remains the case that Liverpool spend what they earn. Darwin’s transfer is set to be balanced by the sales of Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams.
As frustrating as it may be for fans to wait, Liverpool have an excellent record in the transfer market. This could be forfeited if they jump the gun on an expensive mistake.
Jurgen Klopp has carefully built a squad that’s incredibly well-balanced. The planning is clear and thorough and that is something to be cherished, not torn down.
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