Liverpool transfers: Data suggests Lyon midfielder as perfect summer signing

Football analysts Analytics FC have identified Lyon midfielder Maxence Caqueret as Liverpool’s ideal Jude Bellingham alternative this summer.

Liverpool are looking to overhaul their midfield this summer, with Bellingham the number one target. But the Borussia Dortmund man is likely to cost over £100m. As a result, they may yet have to settle for a cheaper deputy.

With this in mind, The i commissioned Analytics FC to take a deep dive into finding who those other options could be – with some interesting results.

Liverpool given Bellingham alternatives

Two players reportedly came out top of the pile. As well as Caqueret, Lecce midfielder Morten Hjulmand is named as a player as stylistically similar to Bellingham as possible.

“Caqueret is a superb all-round midfielder, who can tackle, press, and shift the ball quickly into dangerous areas and Hjulmand is another interesting prospect,” Alex Stewart of Analytics FC is quoted as saying.

“Physically imposing and playing for a Lecce team who are the most Klopp-like side in Serie A in terms of directness and pressing, the Dane tends to play slightly deeper but has the passing skillset and dynamic defending to suit a Klopp team well.”

The i also decided to take a look at who would be Liverpool’s best bet as a new ‘sitting midfielder,’ i.e. Fabinho’s job.

What they found there is that West Ham United’s Declan Rice would be the ‘gold standard.’ However, with Liverpool unlikely to go for both Bellingham and Rice, other potential targets are analysed too.

This led to recommendations for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and PSV Eindhoven man Ibrahim Sangare. Interesting stuff. Let’s see if the Reds heed any such advice.

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