Heading into the summer, Liverpool has identified its midfield area as the position that needs strengthening most urgently. The decision to move away from chasing Jude Bellingham was taken because multiple players will be needed in the center.

Among its targets are Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Mason Mount (Chelsea) and Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), but there is an acceptance that unlike last summer, when no player was signed permanently when it became clear that Aurélien Tchouaméni was heading to Real Madrid and not Anfield, major work needs to be completed.

Among the targets, despite Fabinho’s drop-off in form this season, there has not been too many concrete suggestions of a move for a more defensive-minded player.

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool were always right as Lionel Messi can add to Cristiano Ronaldo debate

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘looks forward to $82m transfer’ as Jürgen Klopp creates his own Jude Bellingham

While Mac Allister could play as a holding midfielder at a push, the three players listed above are primarily attack-minded and would suit the more advanced number eight positions better.

But while there is plenty of work to do in midfield this summer, signing a successor for Fabinho at the base of the midfield should not be something that is overlooked.

There is Stefan Bajčetić, of course, but the 18-year-old cannot be the sole solution. There is room for another player in the holding midfield position long-term, which makes links with Manuel Ugarte at Sporting CP interesting.

If you enjoyed this piece, you’ll love our Liverpool.com newsletter — every weekday, we send exclusive, bonus content only to people signed up for our mailing list!

Our newsletter subscribers get a rundown Monday to Friday from one of the best Liverpool FC writers — straight to your inbox, and completely for free.

Wherever you are in the world — in the US, the UK or further afield — you don’t want to miss out.

Sign up to the Liverpool.com newsletter here — it only takes a few seconds!

There is a strong argument that most of the midfield additions that Liverpool make this summer need to be able to hit the ground running straight away, but that is not to say that there is no room for more of a ‘project’.

At 22, the Uruguayan would probably fall into that category. Fabinho himself needed half a season to bed in and get used to the demands of the position, and that must be factored into signing his successor.

Portuguese outlet Record (translated by Sport Witness) claims that Liverpool is in an ‘advanced pursuit’ of the midfield talent, with the Reds the ‘strongest candidates’ for his signature and supposedly set to make an offer (Ugarte has a $66m/£52m/€60m release clause).

With Fabinho still at Anfield and able to play most of the minutes, someone like Ugarte could adapt and play more sporadically to begin with while adjusting to how Liverpool plays.

Martin Ødegaard battles with Manuel Ugarte during the Europa League clash between Arsenal and Sporting CP.

(Image: Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

That sort of long-term thinking would have been useful last summer ahead of Naby Keïta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner leaving all in one go, but could answer the Fabinho succession plan question now instead.

In fairness, it is what Liverpool has done with Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo, who replaced Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino respectively six months in advance of them actually departing.

It is too late to replicate that now with the more advanced midfield positions, with Liverpool needing to get the right players in for the here and now this summer — making interest in the likes of Mac Allister and Mount, both of whom know the Premier League already, add up even more beyond their obvious quality.

But in the Fabinho role, whether in the form of Ugarte or another option that Liverpool scouts like, while it would add even more to the to-do list this upcoming summer, a transfer for the future would certainly be wise if the right player is available.

READ NEXT

Liverpool act as inspiration for AC Milan in Inter clash after “kick in the teeth” claim