Liverpool’s new-look midfield is shaping up as the Reds contemplate a move for Southampton’s star-in-the-making Romeo Lavia.
After releasing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner at the end of last season, manager Jurgen Klopp is on the lookout for potential replacements.
The Merseyside heavyweights unveiled former Brighton & Hove Albion talisman Alexis Mac Allister as their first summer signing last month.
But the hunt continues. Lavia is the next name on the list, according to Sacha Tavolieri, who insists Liverpool will present their opening bid for the sought-after youngster this week.
While piecing together an offer for the 19-year-old midfielder, Klopp has secured his second high-profile acquisition in the shape of Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool announced the Hungarian’s arrival on Sunday after agreeing to pay RB Leipzig an eye-watering €70 million for the versatile forward, adding him to their star-studded attacking cast.
Szoboszlai can play on either wing, but he’s no stranger to taking up midfield duties, which promises to make him a significant asset for the Reds next season.
It won’t be surprising if Klopp opts to drop the 22-year-old into the engine room if he fails to land another midfielder.
However, the Anfield outfit will try to sign Lavia first.
Let’s see how Liverpool’s line-up could look next season if they convince Southampton to green-light the youngster’s switch.
How could Klopp’s starting XI look in 2023/24?
Klopp has stubbornly stuck to his preferred 4-3-3 formation during his Liverpool career, and he’ll unlikely change the course unless forced otherwise.
As the Reds are in no mood to spend money on another defender, their formidable backline should stay intact despite an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign.
But it’s a whole other story in the middle of the park.
Senior stars such as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are omnipresent figures, with young blood in Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic lurking in the shadows.
Another young gun, Fabio Carvalho, left England last month to link up with RB Leipzig on loan, and it’s not impossible that Bajcetic encounters the same fate.
With Mac Allister expected to be handed a prominent role, five players, including Lavia (if he signs), should fight for the two remaining midfield slots.
Fabinho has been a loyal servant and trustworthy anchor in front of the backline, so unless the Belgian’s transfer goes through, the Brazilian’s starting berth should be a safe bet.
It’s not the case with Thiago and Henderson. While the former couldn’t catch a break last season, moving from one injury setback to another, the captain wasn’t as reliable as Klopp may have wanted.
With Fabinho or Lavia destined for a holding midfielder’s role and Mac Allister ready to slot in on the left, Elliott could be a candidate to take the last place in a three-man midfield.
Henderson probably has a better chance to complete the line-up than Thiago, but there’s another potential alternative – Cody Gakpo.
Despite spending most of his career as a forward, the Dutchman showed glimpses of his playmaking skills in the early days of his Liverpool career.
On top of that, he’s not afraid of getting his hands dirty. He boasts an impressive work ethic, while he’s proved willing to drop back to defend and help out in the build-up play.
Szoboszlai’s arrival could diminish his prospects up top and force him to adjust his position so he can ensure regular first-team football.
Provided Liverpool haven’t splurged a small fortune only to use the Hungarian as a back-up for talismanic goalscorer Mohamed Salah, the youngster should be a starter from the get-go.
The question is, where?
Salah has nailed down the right-winger’s position as his own. There’s no chance Klopp will change the Egyptian’s role that has been the backbone of his success at Anfield for years.
On the opposite side, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have proved capable of making a difference on a good day. However, both players massively struggled with injuries last season.
Still, fresh from taking Milner’s number seven shirt, Diaz seems closer to the starting XI than the Portuguese ace.
That leaves an overpaid flop Darwin Nunez as an unknown entity. Following a nightmarish maiden season in the Premier League, he has a long way to go to return to Klopp’s good grace.
So by ruling the Uruguayan out of the equation, Liverpool could rely on the Salah-Diaz-Szoboszlai trio in the attacking third, with the Colombian likely to move more central in the wake of Roberto Firmino’s departure.
Given Salah’s keen eye for goal, he could be better suited for a centre-forward role, yet he’s so synonymous with that right-wing that it’s impossible to imagine Klopp shifting him elsewhere.
There’s a world where the German manager would abandon his long-term tactics and move to a 4-2-3-1 formation that would allow his all-star forwards to feature more frequently.
But we genuinely believe we don’t live in it.
