Ranking Liverpool’s reported midfield targets after fresh links to one of the ‘three best in Europe’

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool’s reported list of midfield targets continues to grow. We rank them all based on what we’d like the Reds to do next year.

Calciomercato claims Liverpool want Nico Barella and could look at a transfer in 2023. It makes him just the latest in a long line of midfielders linked with the Reds recently.

So with all of these options, who should Liverpool move for? Here we rank the supposed targets based on everything the Reds would get for their money.

Liverpool’s reported midfield targets

7. Joao Gomes

There are very slight links with Flamengo’s Joao Gomes – nothing you could call concrete. Though, reports in Spain suggest Liverpool will rival Real Madrid for the midfielder.

Given the reported price – £53m – and his relative inexperience, we feel Gomes should only be a last resort. The Reds can do better and should push for others on the shortlist.

6. Sander Berge

The Yorkshire Post claimed right at the end of the transfer window that Liverpool wanted to sign Sander Berge. The player looks a level above the Championship right now and there’s a sense that a big offer would tempt Sheffield United into a sale.

But Berge is still only doing it in the Championship. He’s a talented player but one we haven’t seen perform at the highest level for a while now. Liverpool could potentially turn him into a star, though.

5. Enzo Fernández

We love the idea of signing Enzo Fernández, who has looked fantastic ever since joining Benfica at the start of the year. O Jogo believes Liverpool are looking at the player but his £107m release clause has the Portuguese side in a strong position.

If Liverpool can strike a reasonable deal, Fernández would be a wonderful signing. It does feel as though they’d have to pay over the odds for him right now, though. Maybe another 10 months of top football could make a big fee more justifiable.

4. Nico Barella

We think Nico Barella would be a brilliant signing and have done for some time. Liverpool may be able to get the Euro 2020 winner, too, if that Calciomercato report is accurate. A player Fabio Capello once labelled ‘one of the three best in Europe’, there’s little doubt that Barella would be great for the side.

The only thing that throws us off is that Barella is a very attacking midfielder. That’s the one area of midfield where the Reds are well-stocked, albeit with youth players. We’d love to see him at Anfield but maybe not ahead of others on this list.

3. Fede Valverde

AS claim that Liverpool put £86m on the table for Fede Valverde right as the transfer window was shutting. Real Madrid said no, and understandably so. We’d love to see the Reds return for him, though.

Valverde would cost an absolute fortune and Real won’t sell easily. It’s not a basket to put all of your eggs in, then, but there’s little doubt that the Uruguayan would be perfect for Liverpool.

2. Konrad Laimer

Konrad Laimer sits ahead of Valverde here for one reason – he’s out of contract in 2023. Picking him up on a free transfer would be a magnificent deal.

The Athletic reports that Liverpool did try to strike a cut-price deal with RB Leipzig at the deadline but couldn’t push it through. Instead, they’ll hope to get Laimer for free in 2023.

As he’s arguably the best pressing midfielder in Europe, it’s a deal Liverpool must pursue.

1. Jude Bellingham

There is no doubt whatsoever that Jude Bellingham is the greatest of Liverpool’s reported midfield targets. He’s the biggest talent, the nicest fit and holds a homegrown status that makes him near invaluable to English clubs. It’s all perfect.

You needn’t go very far to find reports that Liverpool want him – here’s one from the Telegraph just yesterday. The Reds will go all-out for Bellingham and rightfully so.