Liverpool
Liverpool make move for “incredible” £50m PL “hero”, just imagine him & Van Dijk – opinion
Liverpool make move for “incredible” £50m PL “hero”, just imagine him & Van Dijk – opinion![](https://soccerlivenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Screenshot_20230529-080539.jpg)
The Wolves midfielder is as robust as they come…
Liverpool are in pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, and are now believed to have made their move to tie up a deal for the Portuguese ace.
What’s the latest on Ruben Neves to Liverpool?
That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that the Old Gold are set to accept a £50m bid for their most coveted asset with just one year remaining on his current deal and no resolution in sight.
The report continues to claim that the Reds have requested to be kept informed about potential developments in the situation, and with the 26-year-old completing an emotional lap of honour after his final home game of the term against Everton it appears that a departure is forthcoming.
Barcelona are also interested, with Spanish sources previously indicating that La Blaugrana had the lead in the race, but Ansu Fati’s refusal to be included as a makeweight in a prospective transfer has left Liverpool ready to pounce.
How good is Ruben Neves?
Liverpool will target several midfielders capable of making a marked improvement on Jurgen Klopp’s squad this summer, with Europa League football the destination after failing to qualify for the top four.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all departing at the end of their contracts, while captain Jordan Henderson and pass master Thiago Alcantara are both 32, with the captain 33 in one month’s time.
The “incredible” Neves – as lauded by former teammate Hugo Bueno – is at the peak of his powers right now and has been the centrepiece of Wolves’ success since rising from the Championship and reaching a Europa League quarter-final, forging 252 appearances, scoring 30 goals and providing 13 assists.
The 39-cap machine has been robust and dynamic from his conducting role this term, which is evidenced by his average Sofascore rating of 7.26, scoring six goals from 34 outings, completing 83% of his passes, averaging 0.9 key passes per game and making 2.3 tackles, 2.4 clearances and 1.5 interceptions each match.
Having been a “hero” for his side during his time at Molineux, as lauded by journalist Matt Maher, the midfield titan would provide composure and steel to the Liverpool centre, bolstering the ranks with his tenacious, unflinching demeanour on the pitch.
His arrival would only serve to enhance the endeavours of centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who has been criticised for some of his performances this season amid Liverpool’s strife.
The club’s issues this season have largely been a product of negligence on the transfer market over the past several years, with Thiago the only senior midfield signing since 2018, and for all the Spaniard’s prowess with the ball, there is a belief that he has “slowed” the Reds down with his distinctive style of play – as per club legend John Barnes – with his injury record also less than admirable.
Van Djik has consequently suffered from the absence of control and energy in the midfield this term, with one journalist branding him “nonchalant”.
While the Dutch titan is not the most tackle-happy centre-back in the Premier League – he ranks among the bottom 4% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles per 90 – this is largely a product of his commanding style of play and efficacy in timing his defensive movements to inhibit opposing attacks.
Equally, the former Southampton man is also adept at sweeping away the danger when it presents itself, as he has made 4.2 clearances on average per game in the Premier League this term and won 70% of his contested duels.
A sturdy conductor would not only reignite the Reds midfield but serve as a buffer for the back four, and with Van Dijk not quite so imperious anymore, renewed vitality in the mould of Neves would only serve to enhance his side’s prospects of success next season and beyond.
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“I think he is playing his best football” – Fabinho heaps praise on Liverpool star’s performances this season
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho lauded attacker Cody Gakpo’s performances for the club, claiming that ‘he is playing his best football’.
Gakpo joined the Reds from PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window for over €42 million. He had a tough start to his career at Anfield but has scored seven goals and three assists in 26 games for the club.
Fabinho recently gave an extensive interview on Liverpool’s website and heaped praise on Gakpo and also summer signing Darwin Nunez. The Brazilian midfielder said (via Liverpoolfc.com):
“Cody [Gakpo] arrived and now I think he is playing his best football. Darwin [Nunez] as well was important, I think for his first season he has good numbers. You can say it’s his adapting season, so he played good. So we can take a lot of important things [from] this season but overall it wasn’t our best.”
Gakpo, 24, was excellent in the Reds’ 4-4 draw against Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium in their final game of the season on Sunday, May 28.
After coming on as a 57th-minute substitute for Curtis Jones, he scored a goal, made two key passes, and created one big chance. The Dutch forward also made four tackles.
Jurgen Klopp highlights reasons for Liverpool’s underwhelming 2022-23 campaign
After competing for a quadruple last season and winning two trophies, Liverpool have had a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. They ended the season trophyless and in fifth place in the Premier League table.
There were multiple reasons for their poor performances over the course of the season as their midfield and defense struggled immensely. However, the Reds were also marred by multiple injuries to key players this season.
Highlighting the same after their final game of the season against Southampton on Sunday, manager Jurgen Klopp said (via Liverpoolfc.com):
“We all need a bit of luck. Today we could see the influence of Diogo Jota; not available for most of the season. Luis Diaz, not available for most of the season. Cody Gakpo, only came in the winter. Bobby Firmino, not available for big parts of the season. Darwin Nunez [is] completely new…”
Klopp asserted that if they had a bit of luck, they could have qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season. Liverpool were unbeaten in their previous 11 games but finished behind fourth-placed Newcastle United by four points.
Klopp, however, is hopeful of solving the issues and coming back stronger next season, as he said:
“So, we know the reasons why it happened. We expect from ourselves to solve it quicker, but we work with human beings and sometimes it takes a bit longer.”
This is the first time the Reds have failed to qualify for the Champions League since Klopp joined the club in 2015.
Edited by Aditya Singh
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