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Liverpool ‘front-runners’ for midfielder who could vindicate Jude Bellingham transfer decision

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1 year ago

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Liverpool ‘front-runners’ for midfielder who could vindicate Jude Bellingham transfer decision

The number of midfielders Liverpool are linked with has been whittled down with the summer transfer window fast approaching and plans for next season well underway.

All attention was said to be focused on capturing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and it seemed as though that dream could become reality until it was revealed Jurgen Klopp wanted to spread the transfer budget across more than just the 19-year-old England international.

Bellingham now seems to be close to a move to Real Madrid while Liverpool have set their sights on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte from Sporting Lisbon is also reportedly desired, according to Portuguese media.

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Record in Portugal have written: “Liverpool are now frontrunners for the signature of Manuel Ugarte – having watched the player ‘intensely’ in the last few matches. With a bid expected to arrive from Liverpool this week with the agents of Manuel Ugarte.”

While everyone is well aware of the types of player Mac Allister and Mount because of their Premier League exploits, little is known about combative midfielder Ugarte as Liverpool apparently circle.

The Uruguayan has been a name that has been thrown around by Liverpool fans for a number of months now as summer midfield targets were being spoken about. When news broke of Klopp’s interest, the Anfield faithful was delighted.

Ugarte is much like an N’Golo Kante-type midfielder in the sense he charges about the pitch looking for attacks to break up. He has made his name across Europe as a no nonsense tackler who excels in destroying promising moments for the opposition.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of players in the same position outside Europe’s five main leagues for tackles per 90 over the past year (4.65 per game), also featuring among the top 3% for interceptions (2.13 per match) and top 10% for blocks (1.66 per game).

Liverpool’s decision to scrap any move for Bellingham was one that wasn’t met with great enthusiasm, but it is one that makes sense given the restricted spending power. Having neglected the position for a number of transfer windows, more than one midfield addition was needed and the trio of Mac Allister, Mount and Ugarte could push the Reds back to the summit.

The 22-year-old’s relentless pursuit of opposition players would allow the more creative types in the Reds side to shine while knowing they are capably protected.

Ugarte can play in a variety of positions and has been used in a 4-2-3-1 formation used at Sporting – something that could be deployed by Klopp at times next term. The 22-year-old is talented enough to get hold of the ball in tight spaces and find a way out while setting one of his team-mates free.

Something Liverpool have lacked at times this campaign is a real engine in the middle of the park. Jordan Henderson is 33 in June while Fabinho has rarely been given a rest. The Brazilian’s form has dipped drastically at times this season. The tireless Ugarte can correct this and add that much-needed needle to the middle of Klopp’s side.

Forget about Bellingham, Ugarte could be the one Liverpool need in the summer.

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The Frenchman could be a strong midfield addition.

Liverpool are looking into the possibility of signing OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram this summer, according to journalist Jonathan Johnson.

Who is Khephren Thuram?

The 22-year-old has arguably been one of the standout midfielders in Ligue 1 this season, performing at a high level throughout the campaign. He has made 34 appearances in the competition, scoring twice and registering four assists, as well as averaging 1.5 tackles per game.

Thuram’s current Nice deal doesn’t expire until the end of the 2024/25 season, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be interest in him this summer. Liverpool are on the lookout for several new signings in the middle of the park – younger additions who could provide legs and quality – and they have been linked with a move for the Frenchman.

Could Thuram move to Liverpool this summer?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Johnson talked up the idea of the Reds signing Thuram over Chelsea, although he did admit that Newcastle United are also in the mix:

“We’ve seen Chelsea linked with three French midfield players in the form of Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone, and Khephren Thuram ahead of this summer.

“With top young talents like Kone and Thuram, who are looking for European football and who are likely to have other clubs in for them, it doesn’t really make sense for them to jump to a club like Chelsea, where playing time isn’t guaranteed and where there won’t be the chance to play in Europe next season.

“When you think that Kone could also have interest from PSG and Thuram’s being looked at by Liverpool and Newcastle, these would probably represent better moves for them to continue their progression.”

Thuram could be such an exciting signing by Liverpool if they get a deal over the line this summer, having been lauded for his “excellent technique & ball control at speed” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, as well as for being a “proactive & tenacious tackler” at a massive 6 foot 4.

These are precisely the attributes that the Reds need before the start of next season, with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson toiling and looking past their best, and Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain simply injured too often.

He could excel in the deep-lying No.6 role and provide the energy and defensive cover that Fabinho used to, and at 22, there is no reason why he shouldn’t get better and better over the next six or seven years.

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