Youri Tielemans could be the ‘risk’ that Jurgen Klopp wants to take in this transfer window. He’s not the only one, however.
Jurgen Klopp had an interesting line in his press conference on Tuesday. He admitted that he’d perhaps take more risks with signings than others at the club.
“Let me say it like this; from time to time, I would be ready to risk a bit more,” he said, per the Athletic. “But I don’t decide this, and that’s then fine.
“I’m like this; we try everything until somebody tells us we can’t do it, and then I don’t think back for one second.”
It’s an understandable stance by Klopp. Yes, he’d take more risks but he doesn’t decide the club’s spend. And the system is a successful one, so why complain?
But what if Liverpool did take that risk before the transfer window closes? We’ve picked out three players who could be what the Reds and Klopp are after in midfield.
The risk Jurgen Klopp wants
Youri Tielemans
Tielemans is an obvious target as he’s only got 12 months left on his contract. This is a player who had Brendan Rodgers calling him ‘one of Europe’s top midfielders’ not too long ago.
He’s a player who moves the ball incredibly well, particularly into the final third. On top of that, Tielemans can offer a bit of physical presence in the middle. In that respect, he’s exactly what Liverpool need.
The ‘risk’ is that Tielemans’ pressing stats are actually quite awful. He ranks in the 30th percentile for pressures per 90 across Europe, per data from Statsbomb. Liverpool and Klopp would need to bank on improving that dramatically.
Is that worth his reported price of £21m? It’s a tough one to answer.
Konrad Laimer
There is little question that Laimer would be a brilliant signing. He’s arguably the best pressing midfielder in all of Europe and in the final year of his deal.
But Fabrizio Romano claims that Liverpool’s inquiries were met with rejection by RB Leipzig. Even in the final year, they’d want a ‘crazy’ fee for him. The risk here, then, is deciding that fee is worth it for what Laimer could bring Liverpool this season.
It’s one purely for the money-men, then.
Sander Berge
The risk here is incredibly obvious – Berge is currently playing in the Championship with Sheffield United. He’s also never shown the kind of quality most expected when he moved there.
But Liverpool were fans back when he moved and the suggestion is that they’re still fans.
Berge does tick the right boxes. He’s a physical midfielder who can bring the ball out from deep. He’s versatile to play both the holding role and more advanced, too. But again, the risk is that he doesn’t step up as Liverpool hope.
We’re also not sure that fans would receive the signing all that well – even if he fits the profile.
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