‘Incredible’ Bundesliga player is emerging as Arne Slot’s ideal new midfielder for Liverpool

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Liverpool fans were rocked earlier this week after news emerged that former target Martin Zubimendi could well join Arsenal.

Zubimendi had been identified as the perfect player to add to the Reds midfield over the summer and very nearly joined.

In the end, the 25-year-old made a last-gasp decision to reject the lure of Liverpool and stay at Real Sociedad.

With rumours emerging that Zubimendi is set to join Arsenal at the end of the season, though, Reds fans have a right to feel frustrated.

Nevertheless, although there have been suggestions that Liverpool could still come back for Zubimendi, we think the Reds can now move on and target plenty of other, excellent options in the transfer market.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba would be many people’s pick, but we believe Stuttgart schemer Angelo Stiller is the player who Arne Slot should target.

Angelo Stiller emerging as ideal Liverpool option

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Baleba as a potential target for not only Liverpool, but all of the Premier League’s top clubs.

However, knowing the way Brighton do business, the 21-year-old is likely to cost a huge amount for any team wanting to buy him in 2025.

And if Liverpool put big funds towards any midfielder, they’re likely going to have to start him. He may be good, but we don’t see Baleba getting into the Reds’ midfield three immediately.

Although Stiller may not be ‘cheap,’ the 23-year-old would certainly be a lot more cost-effective than either Baleba or even Zubimendi. Italian outlet Tuttosport, for example, reported an asking price of £21-25m in December.

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That would be more befitting a fee for someone who could come in as a rotational option alongside Ryan Gravenberch but could yet develop into a starter.

In terms of profile, Stiller has been likened to Joshua Kimmich and with Liverpool linked to Kimmich relentlessly, a move to sign a player with a similar skillset would make a lot of sense.

Are Liverpool interested in Stiller?

As well as the comparisons to Kimmich, Stiller has earned plenty of praise from Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness.

“As a central midfielder, he has incredible strategic skills,” Hoeness told Kicker in 2021, while managing Stiller for Hoffenheim. “He can read a game and is able to dictate a game from the sixth position. He has a fine left foot and can also use players further up front.”

As the manager mentions, Stiller is a left-footed midfielder, which would add a slightly different dynamic to the Liverpool midfield.

Already a three-cap German international with experience in the Champions League and of an elite environment having come through at Bayern Munich, Stiller would appear to tick a lot of boxes for Liverpool.

As of yet, there have been no indications that Liverpool are interested in a move for the Stuttgart man. However, with Zubimendi likely to be off the table, it’s likely that Slot’s next big target comes a little out of left field. Let it be Stiller.