Starting in midfield, and whilst there is no longer a superstar target Liverpool are linked with, the name that has been popping up in the papers for months on end is Nicolo Barella.
The Italian midfielder has won almost everything he can in his career, a Scudetto and Coppa Italia with Inter Milan and a European Championship in London - at England’s expense.
The dynamic midfielder is a popular man in the blue and black half of Milan, and it isn’t hard to see why. He’s an extremely dynamic player, seemingly spending the whole 90 minutes running up and down the right channel, getting involved in every phase of play and never hiding from a challenge.
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Jurgen Klopp sang his praises before a game against the Italian giants last year: “He has all the things you want from a midfield player – he’s aggressive, he’s technically (good) he can run for ages and all these kinds of things – so he’s a top-class player.”
It’s easy to see Barella quickly becoming a fan favourite on Merseyside, his sheer intensity and commitment winning fans over, personifying the style of play Klopp and Liverpool have become synonymous with.
Sitting next to Barella on the left of a midfield three could potentially be Chelsea’s academy graduate and – former – fan favourite, Mason Mount.
Since the turn of the year, rumours linking the Cobham graduate to a Liverpool move have felt near constant. The reasons for his potential move from his childhood club stem from a mixture of manager turnover – it’s the history of the Chelsea – minimised playing time, and poor performances.
With his contract set to expire next summer, Chelsea are set to enter a final round of negotiations in the summer and, failing that, sell him before he can leave on a free transfer next summer. There is talk that the return of his idol, Frank Lampard, will throw a spanner in the works, but there is very little chance of the ex-Everton man remaining in charge come summer and subsequently doubts over what kind of impact the interim boss could have.
Klopp gave his own valuation of the player in 2019: “Mason Mount, for sure £60million if not more, Callum Hudson-Odi was worth that already.”
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With the need to make a decision this summer and the surprisingly low wages of £75,000 a week, I’d expect the fee to be significantly less than that now.
The player himself has shown over his time in the Premier League that he has the ability to operate at this level, even if recent performances have been below par. His style isn’t one that lends itself to the typical stats of goals and assists, but it was often Mount who would play the pass before the assist when he was playing regularly for the Blues.
It’s more his movement – similar to Barella – that would make him a great addition to the Liverpool team. His ability to press and harass opposing players helps create space for his teammates. He would undoubtedly face competition on that left-hand side, but his tireless running and pressing would do wonders in helping to rejuvenate an ageing side.
When it comes to the attacking options, I wouldn’t expect any significant incomings this summer, with the only considerable exit being Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino.
The front line is the only part of the squad the board has invested significant money into in recent years. Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo have all made their Liverpool debuts in the last two-and-a-half years, so regardless of the money saved from abandoning the Bellingham deal, don’t expect any new face in the attacking line-up come September 1st .
In the least shocking prediction of them all, Mohammed Salah will be starting on the right next season. Even with the slightly disappointing year he’s had this term – by his own lofty standards – he’s managed to bag 24 goals in all competitions.
Down the middle should still be the ex-Benfica man Darwin Nunez. It hasn’t been the smoothest of transitions for the Uruguayan – albeit head-butting a player during your Anfield debut probably isn’t the way to go – but as the season has gone on, he’s started to find his feet, and with 18 goal involvements in 36 games he deserves another season.
The left-hand side is a little more interesting as in the absence of Diaz, Klopp has been rotating between Nunez, Jota and occasionally Gakpo. However, once the Colombian returns to fitness, Klopp has to give him a chance to re-establish himself as he is unquestionably the best option on the left for Liverpool.
Onto the backline then, and despite the hyperbolic bashing that Trent Alexander-Arnold has endured this year and definitely not at all ridiculous calls for Andy Robertson’s head for having the nerve to get in the way of the linesman’s elbow, don’t expect a new starter in defence.
It has been an undeniably poor season for a defence that only a year ago looked impenetrable. However, playing 63-odd games in a season and being shielded by a midfield incapable of running won’t help.
Last but not least, keeping his spot between the sticks as probably the best goalkeeper in the league this season and certainly Liverpool’s best player, Alisson Becker. The Brazilian keeper has prevented 10.1 more goals than expected throughout this season, more than any other keeper in the league.
So, with everyone fit and the potential transfers going through, here is what Liverpool will look like come the opening day of next season: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Barella, Mount; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
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