Liverpool face an important summer as they aim to revamp their midfield off the back of a disappointing season.
The Reds have already been eliminated from all three cup competitions, having reached three finals last term, and are all-but-mathematically out of title contention in the league. Even a top four finish is far from secure, with work to do to catch Newcastle in fifth, let alone Tottenham in the final Champions League spot.
With Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to depart in the summer, and Stefan Bajcetic making his recovery from a season-ending injury, midfield will be the key area. Jude Bellingham continues to be linked with Jurgen Klopp's side, and he appears to have a good relationship with Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but other names have also been mentioned.
Questions remain over Real Madrid's willingness to move for Bellingham this summer, but Manchester City could still rival Liverpool. This could prompt Klopp to turn his attentions to other targets, with Mason Mount and James Ward-Prowse both linked.
Mount, who withdrew from the last England squad through injury, faces an uncertain future at Chelsea. He turned down a new contract offer, and his current deal only runs until the summer of 2024., potentially opening the door for a cut-price summer move.
Ward-Prowse, meanwhile, could be available for a knock-down fee if his Southampton side suffer relegation from the Premier League. The 28-year-old, who has spent his entire career at St Mary's, won the most recent of his 11 England caps in 2022.
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The question facing Liverpool is one of balance. With neither Mount nor Ward-Prowse a ball-winner, the inclusion of both might force the Reds to persist with Fabinho despite the Brazilian's difficult season.
Of course, Bajcetic's return to fitness would provide another option. The question here concerns how quickly the teenager will return to top form and how long it will take him to produce the kind of display which impressed Klopp this season.
When Ward-Prowse was linked with Liverpool back in 2021, it was as a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum. That role has since been filled by a number of players, including Harvey Elliott, and it may well be that the new signing or signings are designed to put the Reds in a healthier position when it comes to squad rotation.
An alternative approach from Liverpool might see them use Mount further forward. The 24-year-old has occasionally featured in a front three for club and country, and there may be moments where Klopp favours a less balls-to-the-wall attacking approach.
This could pave the way for a midfield including both Ward-Prowse and Thiago, potentially allowing Liverpool to operate a little differently in the middle of the park. Of course, the likes of Elliott, Bajcetic and Jordan Henderson would also feature in certain matches as the manager sees fit.
The bigger question here concerns whether Klopp, having overseen significant investment in his forward line, feels the need for further additions. With Luis Diaz on the verge of a return, and Cody Gakpo competing with the likes of Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah for a starting spot, the squad appears healthy enough.
Some Liverpool fans have retained hope of a Bellingham move after his comments on Sunday. The Borussia Dortmund man was part of the team which beat Ukraine in their second Euro 2024 qualifier, and spoke with former Reds captain Steven Gerrard on Channel 4.
"The things that Stevie could do in terms of the teams he played in, the way he could carry a team, the way he could kind of single-handedly win a game, he could do everything as a midfielder," Bellingham said. "I’ve definitely said it multiple times I’ve looked up to you so it’s a pleasure to be stood here [next to Gerrard]."
The praise went both ways, though. "He’s more confident than me on the ball in terms of what he’ll try, and I’m not just saying that just being modest, I’m saying that as it’s the truth," Gerrard said of the youngster.
"I think he’s further on than what I was at 19. Don’t get me wrong, I got to where I wanted to get to and he’ll naturally get to where he wants to if he keeps on doing what he’s doing."
