Liverpool may be forced into altering their summer stance over the next few weeks, after a pile up of injuries and Darwin Nunez' red card left Jurgen Klopp bereft of choice.
The Reds manager described last week at the AXA Training Centre as ‘cursed’, with Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino the latest in the treatment room. They joined the likes of Thiago, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines during Monday’s draw against Crystal Palace, forcing Klopp to throw on 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho in search of a game-changer.
Klopp’s absence of options on the bench at Anfield have once again called into question the club’s transfer policy, and with two-and-a-half weeks until the window shuts, Liverpool may be forced to dip back into the market. A new midfielder could be on the cards to ease any burden on teenage pair Carvalho and Harvey Elliott, while a fresh pair of legs in the front-three could rejuvenate the attack.
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Here, we take a look at the three most-heavily linked with a move to Merseyside in the future.
Jude Bellingham
Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham this summer looked to have died down a few weeks ago, but Thiago’s hamstring strain - and subsequent lack of creativity from midfield on Monday - has brought back calls for the Reds to act ahead of schedule.
The 19-year-old has been a standout at Borussia Dortmund since joining in 2020, and his importance is reflected in their £100million valuation. But Klopp’s midfield options produce a worrying lack of goal contributions when Thiago is unavailable and Bellingham can address that instantly.
Manchester City’s potential sale of Bernardo Silva to Barcelona could see Pep Guardiola’s side approach the former Birmingham City star, but the signing of Luis Diaz in January showed the Reds can act swiftly and decisively if necessary.
Liverpool - 4/1
Manchester City - 8/1
Manchester United 16/1
Youri Tielemans
Another who could fill the creative void left by Thiago is Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, and the Foxes lacklustre start to the season suggests all is not well at the King Power.
The Belgian international has been the subject of interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United and would provide Klopp with another playmaker in midfield - and someone who can pop up with the odd goal. His contract is also up at the end of the season.
But Brendan Rodgers’ side have already lost Kasper Schmeichel, and Chelsea’s approaches for Wesley Fofana are intensifying by the day. Whether they would be prepared to offload another key asset this summer remains to be seen.
Arsenal - 4/7
Stay at Leicester - 6/4
Manchester United - 8/1
Newcastle - 16/1
Liverpool - 20/1
Antony
With Nunez suspended and both Jota and Firmino injured - albeit, Klopp suggested the Brazilian might be back for Monday’s trip to Old Trafford - Reds fans would be forgiven for wanting another attacking player to bulk up the squad, and Ajax winger Antony could be a promising option.
The 22-year-old scored 10 goals and added 12 assists in 33 games for Ajax across all competitions last season, and he already has two goals and two assists in three games this campaign. And while the Brazilian may not come in as a guaranteed starter, he could provide cover and competition for Mohamed Salah before eventually succeeding the Egyptian.
Manchester United - 9/4
Chelsea - 14/1
Liverpool - 22/1
All odds courtesy of SkyBet
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