Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders believes the Reds do not need wholesale midfield reinforcements because they already have "England's best midfielder" in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
England international Alexander-Arnold has had an up-and-down season at right back, but the 24-year-old's fortunes have improved since Jurgen Klopp moved him into a hybrid midfield/defence role. This has been enough to win over Saunders, a former club record signing, to sing the homegrown star's praises.
Liverpool's midfield needs appear clear from the outside, with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner out of contract in the summer. Milner is on the verge of a move to Brighton, but Saunders has played down the need for a big transfer push.
"I honestly think Liverpool don't need to sign a midfield player," Saunders told talkSPORT. "I think he [Alexander-Arnold] is better than all the English midfield players.
"I think Trent could play centre of midfield for England and end up captain. I think he's a brilliant central midfield player; he's like a caged animal waiting - you can tell he's loving it.
"He can defend in midfield, which is not like defending as a full-back where you get isolated with the winger - he's got defensive thoughts in his head which he can track people into the box. His feet are better than anybody's in the England team, both feet."
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Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfield talents, including Alexis Mac Allister and Matheus Nunes, but have essentially ruled out a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham thanks to the youngster's price tag. As far as Saunders is concerned, though, the Bundesliga teenager hasn't proved himself ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the same league.
"Bellingham is playing in a league that's not as good as this one," the Welshman added. "I'll compare him with Bellingham when I see Bellingham playing in the Premier League week in, week out."
Manager Klopp, meanwhile, has spoken about the Reds' transfer plans with Bellingham now looking destined for Real Madrid. The 19-year-old is expected to move for a British record fee, topping the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021.
"I never understood why we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have," the German said in April while insisting the answer was not about Bellingham specifically. "We cannot have six players in the summer for £100m [each], for example. That’s clear.
"You have to realise what you can do and then you have to work with that. How much money do we have available? Then we work with that. That’s the job you have to do.
"What we need and what we want, we try absolutely everything to get it. But there are moments we have to accept this or that are not possible for us and step aside and do different stuff.”
