Despite reports of a ‘done deal’, Liverpool still retain residual transfer hope for an ideal Fabinho heir. It would mean repeating a Thiago strategy for FSG.
Liverpool have a go-to transfer approach, but they are always willing to make an exception for the right player. Most recently, Luis Díaz warranted a divergence from the usual quiet January.
Going slightly further back, Thiago was brought in despite being outside the typical FSG age range, his quality outweighing other considerations. It is this same exception that could be used again to get the ideal Fabinho cover — and there’s a chance he could still be available for free.
Marcelo Brozović’s new contract at Inter Milan is reportedly a done deal. An announcement was initially said to be imminent; now, Sempre Inter reports that the club could confirm the deal after the first leg of the Milan Derby in the Coppa Italia on March 1. Either way, the consensus is that player and club have reached an agreement.
However, to anyone with even a vague interest in Serie A, this situation feels familiar. Across the city, Franck Kessié was thought to be close to a renewal at one point, with the midfielder vowing to ‘fix everything’ after the Olympic Games finished. He now looks likely to leave as a free agent. Paulo Dybala was ‘close’ to a Juventus renewal in September, with positive reports persisting right up until January. Still a new deal has not been signed.
The lesson is clear. Until Liverpool see Brozović posing with a pen in his hand, he is fair game. And if he is still available, a last-ditch free transfer hijack would be a very sensible move.
Apart from right-back, defensive midfield is the one main area where Jürgen Klopp is still lacking depth. Fabinho is an elite option, but when he is not available there are precious few choices for the manager. He can either repurpose Jordan Henderson (or a 36-year-old James Milner), or else turn to the youth team and throw in Tyler Morton. Even the 19-year-old is not a dedicated defensive specialist.
Brozović could offer that depth, giving Liverpool a medium-term solution to the Fabinho issue. The Croatian is 29, so would not be one for the future, but he would be sufficiently impactful on the squad to justify a departure from the usual rules — particularly on a free transfer.
Given that FSG sanctioned a transfer fee for Thiago at the same age, the move is not a complete non-starter. If Klopp wanted Brozović, and the recruitment team felt he was a stylistic fit for Liverpool, his seniority would not be a barrier. Indeed, it could be a benefit, with the Inter star’s experience making him an even more appealing option as dedicated defensive midfield depth.
With this experience comes reliability. Brozović is in the top three per cent of midfielders around Europe when it comes to the number of passes attempted per 90 minutes, yet despite this high volume he is still in the top four per cent when it comes to pass completion rate. Nor are these all safe passes by any means, with the 29-year-old in the top two per cent for progressive passes per 90. A defensive midfielder suited to a possession-based system, he would slot in neatly at Liverpool.
Off the ball, Brozović’s numbers are far more underwhelming than Fabinho’s, but he still outstrips Henderson when it comes to tackles, blocks, clearances and pressures. As an understudy to the Brazilian, he has far more of the requisite attributes than Klopp’s current options.
If Inter really have managed to tie down Brozović to a new deal, Liverpool won’t lose too much sleep over it. Unlike Thiago, he would only ever have been earmarked as a depth signing. But if a free transfer is still on the table, age should be no object — the Croatian could certainly add something to the squad, and hijacking the renewal at the 11th hour would be more smart business from FSG.
