Liverpool have the potential to bolster their midfield this summer after seeing an alarming drop-off during the 2025/26 campaign.
Predictably, the Reds have been linked with a number of potential candidates, with German reporter Patrick Berger confirming on Thursday that Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha could be in the mix.
Nmecha has been performing well for Germany at the World Cup, and when Rousing The Kop posed the question of his potential arrival to fans on Facebook and X, the overwhelming answer was that supporters would love to see the 25-year-old arrive.
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However, while Nmecha does look like a very capable midfielder, the truth is that he is essentially a less accomplished version of Ryan Gravenberch. Stylish? Maybe, but the former Man City youth prospect is not the profile Liverpool need to ensure some midfield improvement under Andoni Iraola.
Nmecha is a worse version of Ryan Gravenberch
It should be noted that Liverpool are by no means the favourites to land Nmecha, according to Berger anyway.
“Manchester United are stepping up their pursuit of Felix Nmecha,” he posted to X on Thursday. “Christopher Vivell, MUFC Director of Recruitment, remains in close contact with the player’s camp. Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid are all keeping a close eye on the situation. A move to the Premier League is viewed as a realistic option in the future. But for now Nmecha is happy at Dortmund and fully focused on the World Cup with Germany.”
Nevertheless, that they are in the race at all is slightly alarming. Liverpool need a proper defensive midfielder this summer, or at least someone who has the physicality to perform that role.
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Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall, Nmecha cannot be accused of lacking physicality, but at the exact same height and a similar, slender build to Gravenberch, he is basically a carbon copy of Liverpool’s No. 38.
That is borne out in the numbers as well, with Nmecha playing a similar game to Gravenberch, but doing things generally worse.
The Dutchman is more forward-thinking than his German counterpart, completing almost five more forward passes per 90 than Nmecha, but they generally operate in the same area of the pitch.
Nmecha would not offer anything different to Gravenberch in terms of profile, and as per Squawka’s comparison tool, he comes off worse in terms of ground duel success, interceptions and tackles.
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Nmecha does come out better on aerial duels won, but in reality this is the only key statistic which works in his favour.
Gravenberch is unlikely to be the player replaced in Liverpool’s midfield this summer, and instead of adding someone with a virtually identical profile, the Reds need to help him out by adding someone who can complement his style of play.
Who should Liverpool target instead?
The only way in which Liverpool signing Nmecha would make sense this summer is if they are aiming to replace Gravenberch.
With the 24-year-old having signed a fresh, bumper deal in March, there is no chance of that, nor should there be. Although he did not have his best season, Gravenberch remains one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Instead of looking at a player like Nmecha, Liverpool would be better off looking towards his Germany teammate, Angelo Stiller.
Stiller could make up for Gravenberch’s slight deficiency in terms of duels, giving the former Ajax man the freedom to push a little further up the pitch.
Though he is not a ‘destroyer’ style defensive midfielder by any means, the German could patrol a deeper area than Gravenberch, accentuating his qualities while also giving Liverpool something totally new.
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