Liverpool continue to be linked with a plethora of midfielders ahead of their planned summer revamp of their engine room, with their decision earlier this month to step away from a potential move for long-term target Jude Bellingham only increasing the speculation and uncertainty.
Wanting to sign at least two midfielders, Chelsea’s Mason Mount has emerged as the Reds’ new priority. Meanwhile, they’ve also been repeatedly linked with the likes of Conor Gallagher, Matheus Nunes, Ryan Gravenberch, Joao Palhinha, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Nicola Barella, James Maddison, Teun Koopmeiners, and Youri Tielemans.
Given the uncertainty regarding where the Reds will actually end up finishing this season, with Champions League qualification looking rather unlikely, and with their decision not to move for Bellingham only prompting a further air of mystery, it is no surprise to see Liverpool’s longlist of potential targets featuring so many different names. As a result, the identity of who will actually end up at Anfield this summer remains up in the air.
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Another name re-emerged in the transfer gossip columns last week as 90min reported that the Reds were one of a number of sides to have been monitoring Yunus Musah this season. The 20-year-old impressed for the United States at last winter’s World Cup in Qatar, but his fortunes at club-level with Valencia leave his future uncertain.
If you mention the La Liga outfit to Liverpool fans, the majority will recall how the Spaniards, then managed by Rafa Benitez, tore the Reds apart with ease in both the Champions League group-stages in 2002 and a pre-season friendly at Anfield 2003.
La Liga champions in 2001/02 and 2003/04 under Benitez, as well as UEFA Cup winners in the latter, such success would earn the Spaniard his own move to Liverpool in the summer of 2004. Throw in back-to-back Champions League final appearances under former manager Hector Cuper in 2000 and 2001 and Valencia had built a reputation as one of the leading sides in Spanish football behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
However, it is currently a very different reality at the Mestalla with Valencia at serious risk of suffering relegation to the Segunda Division, having last competed in the Spanish second tier in 1986/87. Although they recorded a 2-0 victory over bottom-placed Elche on Sunday, it was only their third La Liga win since the World Cup.
Ruben Baraja, who was a key member of Benitez’s impressive side 20 years ago, took over as manager in February but has been unable to reverse the rot. Losing 11 of their 16 league matches since the mid-season break, they remain in the relegation zone in 18th as a result, and still have clashes with Spanish giants Real Madrid, and Champions League hopefuls Villarreal and Real Betis to come in their final eight games of the season.
Given such a plight, it would be no surprise to see Musah leave the club this summer. Valencia opened talks with the midfielder regarding a new improved deal late last year, but are yet to come to an agreement.
Struggling financially with supporters protesting against owner Peter Lim, a Valencia firesale looks likely should they suffer relegation. But regardless of if they avoid the drop or not, 90min report they still would not be able to reject any sort of substantial offer for Musah.
The American remains under-contract until 2026, with his current contract containing an €100m release clause, but given Valencia’s woes on and off the pitch, he is likely to command a much more modest fee should he move on.
That in itself could make Musah an attractive option to Liverpool this summer, if they have been suitably impressed while monitoring him. After all, when discussing the Reds’ revised stance on Bellingham, Jurgen Klopp said: “We cannot have six players in the summer, every player being £100m.”
Liverpool have been opportunists in the transfer market in the past, taking advantage of Newcastle United, Hull City, and Stoke City’s own relegations from the Premier League to snap up Gini Wijnaldum, Andy Robertson, and Xherdan Shaqiri for cut-price fees. As a result, they could revisit such a tactic if Valencia suffered relegation.
However, Musah is more than just an affordable price. He also ticks a lot of boxes that Klopp and the Reds recruitment team look for in potential signings.
Firstly, he is still only 20 years old yet boasts plenty of experience for a player so young. As well as impressing at the World Cup, he’s made over 100 appearances for Valencia over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, his best years are still firmly ahead of him.
Set to turn 21 in November, he would still count as an Under-21s player and not need to be registered in next season’s Premier League squad as a result. Beyond that, when he becomes of age, he would actually qualify as home-grown.
The midfielder spent seven years in Arsenal’s youth academy prior to joining Valencia as a 16-year-old in the summer of 2019. Therefore, while already comfortable in England and fluent in English, he already boasts the required 36 months registered with a club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales prior to his 21st birthday to earn home-grown status.
Admittedly, such status is harder to earn in continental competition. While he would qualify as an Under-21s player for Premier League action next year, he would still need to be registered in a 25-man squad for Europe as he would not have been at any new club long enough to be registered on ‘List B’ despite being under the age of 21.
However, should he join an English club this summer, he will qualify as home-grown in Europe as an association-trained player. Having been on Arsenal’s books as a 15-year-old and 16-year-old, the 2023/24 season could see him earn the required third year on a club’s books in the same association between the ages of 15 and 21 to earn such status.
Meanwhile, he is extremely versatile. While predominantly a central-midfielder, he has senior experience of playing on either flank, behind a striker, as a holding midfielder, and even at full-back.
As a player, his physical attributes have been lauded throughout his career, with his strengths getting on the ball, retaining possession and carrying it forward. Such traits certainly fit into what Klopp demands from his midfielders.
“I was the under-16 coach and Yunus was playing up a year group,” former Arsenal academy coach Trevor Bumstead recalled to First Time Finish back in 2021. “He was a really likeable lad. He had a fantastic smile, was very softly spoken but sociable.
“As a player, he was ‘wow’. He’s got fantastic physical attributes and the drive and determination to go with that. His versatility is a coaches’ dream really. He would play anywhere to get in the team but his favourite was as a central attacking midfield player.
“His physical stats at under-16 would compare to our first-team players. The sports scientists dragged him off the pitch. He was consistent in his behaviours which led him to be consistent in his performances. He recognised his strengths and weaknesses.
“It’s always difficult predicting who will go on to play first-team football. Having worked with Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, I would consider Musah to be on the same level as those.”
High praise indeed for a player who certainly possesses the ‘right’ attitude to improve too. When you consider he was born in the United States, brought up in Italy, and spent his teenage years in England prior to his move to Spain, it also paints a picture of a player comfortable adapting to new surroundings.
Whether Musah ends up being a midfielder Liverpool move for this summer remains to be seen. But there are a number of reasons why he could be an attractive signing as links with the American persist.
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