There were just 51 minutes on the clock when Thiago Alcantara was forced to limp off in Liverpool’s Premier League opener away at Fulham. Suffering a suspected hamstring injury, the Spaniard cut a frustrated figure on the pitch as he received treatment before conceding defeat as his afternoon came to an end.
Such setbacks have been a recurring theme for the Spaniard throughout his career, long before his £20m move to Merseyside in the summer of 2020. His injury record had been a concern at Bayern Munich but when the Reds were presented with the opportunity to sign a genuine world class performer for a cut-price fee, it was one they couldn’t say no to.
According to Transfermarkt, the midfielder has missed 44 matches through injury or illness over the past two seasons, equating to 193 days on the sidelines. Missing 14 Premier League matches in his first year at Anfield before another 13 in his second campaign, he has only ever once reached 30 league appearances in a league season throughout his career.
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It is understood that Liverpool are preparing for the playmaker to be sidelined for a number of weeks, although the club are awaiting the results of a second scan to fully determine the severity of the problem.
The sight of the forlorn Spaniard limping off, and not for the first time, will not have reassured supporters who have spent the summer urging the Reds, in vain, to strengthen their midfield options so that Jurgen Klopp’s squad is strong enough to challenge for Premier League and Champions League glory.
As things stand, Liverpool’s stance regarding a new midfielder has not changed. Such plans are on hold until 2023 with Klopp repeatedly insisting his side has enough options to compete this season.
They do have nine senior midfielders, including summer signing Fabio Carvalho, after all. Yet with Thiago currently the tenth player on their ever-growing injury list, which already featured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and the ill Naby Keita, fans are understandably concerned.
Meanwhile, the fact that the decision to not strengthen midfield until 2023 has only enhanced speculation that Klopp wants to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, has provided little compensation in the face of the aforementioned injury setbacks. And the opening day 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Fulham, having twice trailed in a pitiful performance, as rival Premier League big six clubs Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all won has increased such unease further.
“We have too many injuries, that’s true, but in the moment, nothing has changed,” Klopp told reporters on Friday at his pre-match press conference. “A lot of unlucky situations… We cannot sort a problem we have for four weeks with a transfer for a full year.
“That makes, in the moment at least, no sense for us. But the transfer window is still open, so we will see. But the plan won’t go in that direction.”
Meanwhile, after seeing Thiago limp off against Fulham, he said: “We actually have enough (midfielders). The problem is we are now punished for something that isn’t our responsibility. Things like this can happen.
"Nobody could imagine that Curtis gets the thing he gets. It’s nothing serious but he’s a young boy and he’s had a stress reaction and bodies are like this. Naby is only ill and will definitely be back next week again. Oxlade (injury) happened early, and now Thiago. That’s not good.
“We will see. A transfer must make sense now and in the long-term. We have eight midfielders. We still have enough midfielders. It’s not that we lack midfielders, it’s just some of them are injured.
“This isn’t a good situation, I don’t like it at all. We have to see how we react on that, but for sure not panic.”
Admittedly, how dire their situation turns out to be currently rests on just how long Klopp will be forced to go without the services of Thiago and Jones. If both return by next month, no harm, no foul.
And it’s crystal clear that Liverpool will not sign any stop-gaps before the transfer window closes, regardless of their injury situation. Yet with Oxlade-Chamberlain sidelined until October, it currently unclear how long the Reds will be without the aforementioned midfield pair and with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Fabinho all prone to injury in the past, it’s also clear that they are also gambling on their injury list not growing any further.
Admittedly they need more than one midfielder in 2023 regardless, with Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita currently out of contract and Henderson and Thiago joining the Liverpool vice-captain on the wrong side of 30.
As a result, further setbacks, if long-term, could perhaps force the Reds’ hand to bring forward their midfield transfer plans. But if they are to now move to strengthen their engine-room, it would be for a player already on Liverpool’s radar who club bosses believe would improve Klopp’s starting XI.
Such a deal actually happened back in January when Luis Diaz signed in a deal worth up to £49m from FC Porto. The Reds had planned to move for him this summer, only to see him on the verge of a switch to Tottenham.
Having seen Spurs effectively negotiate a lower price for them, they swooped six months earlier to sign the Colombian. If such a scenario now, however unlikely it might currently be, presented itself for Bellingham, for example, rest assured they would move accordingly.
Yet Dortmund’s stance currently remains unchanged. They have no interest in selling the England international before 2023. So what should Liverpool do?
They have been credited with reported interest in Nicola Barella, Ibrahima Sangare and Luka Sucic in the past, though there has been no sign of any such move being forthcoming in the final weeks of the transfer window. Meanwhile, one rumoured target in Carney Chukwuemeka has already signed for Chelsea this summer.
Yet there is one A-list midfield option currently available on the market who, while not linked with the Reds, could be the perfect long-term replacement for Thiago. Meanwhile, such a signing would also strike a blow to two of their title-rivals.
Despite his belligerent resistance to a Barcelona exit so far, Frenkie de Jong continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou. And while player, manager Xavi and club bosses all want him to stay put, the Catalans’ financial woes might leave them with no other choice but to sell.
Barcelona are currently involved in a disagreement with the midfielder over his deferred wages from over the past couple of seasons, which are now due to be paid. As a result, they need to either cash in on him or reach an agreement to aid their financial struggles.
With De Jong also needing to take a wage cut if he wishes to stay put, The Athletic report the La Liga giants want to annul his existing contract and return to the deal he was on before, alleging the terms given to him by the club’s previous board involved criminality and provide grounds for legal action against those involved. Meanwhile, Barcelona are also currently unable to register their summer signings, with less than a week to go until the start of the La Liga season, and need to raise more money for that to change.
Manchester United agreed a £63.5m deal with Barcelona for the 25-year-old last month, but, with his deferred wages still unresolved, De Jong has so far resisted such a move. He seemingly wants to stay at Camp Nou, yet also has no desire to accept a pay cut.
Meanwhile, reports claim Chelsea plan to hijack United’s attempts to sign the Netherlands international, with him likely to favour a switch to Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford, despite being able to reunite with Erik ten Hag at the latter, due to them being able to offer him Champions League football. The Athletic report that if the Londoners pushed ahead with their interest, they would pay Barcelona’s desired fee and salary debt.
Should Liverpool suddenly find themselves in need of a new midfielder, there would be few options available on the market better than De Jong. Still only 25, his best years are still ahead of him while in compatriot Virgil van Dijk, the Reds already possess a player in his ear who knows his talents better than most.
Having emerged as Barca’s Andres Iniesta replacement where Philippe Coutinho first failed, the Dutchman would arguably be the perfect long-term replacement for Thiago. Known for his vision, passing and dribbling, he is predominantly a playmaker in the same mould as the Spaniard but equally capable of playing a more defensive role.
Able to sub in for both Thiago and Fabinho as number eight or number six, he's arguably exactly what Klopp needs to add to his Liverpool squad after such injuries. Meanwhile, the Reds are more alluring than both Manchester United and Chelsea, given they can offer Champions League football and are in a stronger position to prove domestic and European titles than either of their rivals. Throw in playing under the German and playing alongside his international captain in Van Dijk, and such a switch makes sense for player and club.
Yet despite him ticking such boxes and a deal being there to be done, which would provide the added bonus of dealing a hammer blow to Manchester United in the process, there has been no suggestion of Liverpool joining the conversation. Admittedly his reported salary, which Barca are wanting to cut, would perhaps be beyond the Reds' wage structure.
Whether that points to Klopp having other ideas for his engine room in the face of their injuries, with the club looking at other targets or sticking with their stance of waiting until 2023, only time will tell.
Either way, as Liverpool keep their cards close to their chest regarding when exactly their injured contingent can return, Klopp, publicly at least, continues to stand by the options already at Anfield. The German did the same last summer too, when ignoring pleas to replace Gini Wijnaldum, and was rewarded by his side nearly winning an unprecedented quadruple.
Their hopes of a similarly memorable campaign will again rest in their engine room. Should the Reds not move for the available De Jong and instead watch him join a Premier League rival, Kopites will inevitably ask why.
And while they will keep faith in Klopp’s judgement regardless, and cross their fingers at the prospect of Bellingham moving to Anfield in 2023, scepticism and scrutiny also remains as these midfield injuries continue to stack up.
The ‘I told you so’ brigade are waiting in the shadows. Should Liverpool not sign a new midfielder this summer, it’ll be up to Klopp’s Reds to not give them the satisfaction come May.
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