Liverpool is still interested in signing Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana this summer.
That’s according to The Daily Mail, who claim that the Reds were the first Premier League side to show interest in the 24-year-old. Since then, it’s claimed that Chelsea have joined them in the race, but Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are still there.
Part of the appeal of Fofana is said to be his relatively cheap price. With just a year left on his deal in Monaco, the Principality side would reportedly be willing to sell him for around £21.9m.
Fofana is in the picture for Liverpool
There hasn’t been too much noise around the potential arrival of Fofana at Anfield this summer. But in truth, he ticks a heck of a lot of boxes for Liverpool. Still young, already an international in a top France team, and available on the cheap, there’s a lot to like about him.
That’s before you even take into account what the Frenchman can bring to a side. Imposing and physical, Fofana is excellent on the ball and capable of playing deeper or more box-to-box.
This mix of skills should be perfect for Liverpool, who do need more physicality in their midfield. But if you’re in a team like Jurgen Klopp’s, you need to be technically adept, too. Thankfully, Fofana looks to be that, too.
For the time being, it doesn’t appear as though the Monaco man is towards the top of Liverpool’s wish list, though. Other players have been far more regularly mentioned, with the likes of Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister now looking the most likely.
But both of those players will cost perhaps more than three times what Fofana would. As a result, Liverpool could yet be priced out.
With Fofana, that would be unlikely to happen. The Reds have benefitted down the years from steering away from mainstream thinking in terms of transfers. More often than not when they’ve moved on from top targets they’ve ended up doing well out of it. Maybe this World Cup runner-up could be the next to follow that path.
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Liverpool keen on Manuel Ugarte: The Engine to Jurgen Klopp’s Ferrari?
Liverpool has been linked with a move for Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, a target for Arsenal and Tottenham, in recent weeks.
Manuel Ugarte has made a name for himself with his performances in the Portuguese league this season. The 22-year-old has impressed against Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the European competitions this season. And Liverpool are reportedly hoping to snap him up at the end of the season.
The midfielder has a €60 million release clause in his contract, and he has been linked with clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham as well. The Reds are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements and Ugarte could be a signing that can galvanize the club’s engine room and transform Liverpool on the pitch next season.
The 22-year-old Sporting CP star is usually deployed in a defensive midfield role, and he is exceptional when it comes to winning the ball back and breaking up the play. However, Ugarte is more than just a destroyer and he has multiple facets to his game.
The Uruguayan midfielder boasts impressive physicality and stamina. These are attributes that make the Arsenal, and Tottenham targets an ideal fit for Jurgen Klopp’s system at Liverpool.
The Reds have struggled in the middle of the park this season. And one of the main reasons behind that is the absence of physicality and energy in the midfield. Klopp’s heavy-metal football demands a substantial work rate from the midfielders. But players like Jordan Henderson and James Milner are simply not physically capable to work as hard as they used to.
Losing the legs in midfield has exposed players like Fabinho. The Brazilian is an exceptional defensive midfielder with an impressive reading of the game and exceptional tackling ability. However, he is not the most mobile of players and does not have the engine to press relentlessly either.
The drop in Henderson’s energy has left Trent Alexander-Arnold vulnerable as well. The Liverpool captain did a lot of Alexander-Arnold’s defensive work, allowing the 24-year-old to venture forward and create opportunities with his exceptional passing ability. Ugarte could take on that responsibility and free up the England international next season.
Apart from the regression of Henderson and Fabinho, the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum has hurt Liverpool massively as well. The Dutchman had a relentless work ethic. In addition, his ability to press opposition players high up the pitch and win the ball back to set up transitions was a key facet of Liverpool’s game.
Ugarte is someone who excels in these departments. The 22-year-old is very impressive when it comes to carrying the ball and pressing high up the pitch. He has the physicality to nudge players out of the way and drive forward with the ball. Although Ugarte is not the best passer going forward, his short and medium passing is extremely reliable and he would be very effective at sitting deep as the number six and recycling possession.
One of the key areas Liverpool has struggled in this season is defending against transitions. Liverpool has struggled to cope with opposition attackers on the counter. And Ugarte has proven himself quite capable of stopping transitions early on with his recovery pace, tackling, and stamina. His recovery pace could prove to be invaluable for Liverpool, who prefer to operate with a high defensive line.
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