Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a transfer move for an Atlético Madrid star that Diego Simeone likes and Jürgen Klopp would love. It could make complete sense.
Liverpool will likely end up moving for a midfielder in the summer transfer market, and if they do, there will be a number of things that the player will need to have for the Reds to be tempted.
Jürgen Klopp demands a huge amount from his midfielders and there are very specific jobs that players in that area of the pitch need to be capable of, often simultaneously.
Out of possession, defensive awareness and positioning is vital, as is intelligent pressing; meanwhile, in attack, the player needs to be decisive and have the ability to be progressive through both passing and dribbling.
Combining all of those things coherently is not an easy task, and it takes a top level of playing ability to have a chance, combined with an excellent understanding of the game and a willingness to be patiently coached.
That makes the pool of candidates far smaller, though not empty. Only very elite footballers — or at least those with very elite potential — are worth buying in a bid to improve Klopp’s current group.
One such option is Marcos Llorente of Atlético Madrid, who has been linked on and off with a move to Anfield all season. A transfer would likely not come cheap, but it might make a lot of sense.
Jürgen Klopp is said to be ‘very interested’ in the versatile player, with Liverpool ‘closely following’ the just-turned-27-year-old’s situation.
The appeal is simple: Llorente has ample talent and a work ethic to match, and he can also play a variety of roles, having played as a box-to-box midfielder who can be more defensive or more attacking when required, as well as at right-back and even as a false nine.
Liverpool might well need some cover at full-back next season, and their midfield would be strengthened by Llorente’s arrival, ticking two boxes in one and being quite the upgrade on the Reds’ current version, James Milner, a player nearly a decade older.
Spanish outlet Fichajes have reported in the last couple of days that Liverpool are keen, and also that it might be the ideal time to make a move because he has underperformed — relative to his own high standards — this season.
Valued at €60m (£50m) by Transfermarkt, the suggestion is that Liverpool might be able to sign Llorente for less, even though he has remained a key player for Diego Simeone, playing most of the time when fit.
Atlético Madrid are also thought to be open to cashing in on a couple of players this summer (João Félix has been reported to be another of those) in order to fund three summer signings that they have earmarked to bring in.
Given all of those circumstances, and that the versatile midfielder could tick plenty of Liverpool boxes and would come from an intense team having worked with Simeone, it could make a great deal of sense.
Having scored at Anfield already (knocking Liverpool out of the Champions League in 2020), and then naming his new dog ‘Anfield’ to mark the occasion, Llorente already has Liverpool ties.
Perhaps next time he celebrates wildly in front of the Kop, he might be adorned in a Liverpool shirt.
