With the season coming to a close, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side look set to claim some form of European football despite a season fraught with injuries. While the title defence has not gone to plan in a difficult year, there have been outstanding individual performances to take some comfort in. This squad is capable of competing for the title again next campaign, if it sheds some of its dead weight and brings in new contributors.
Who are some potential options Klopp and his recruitment team might consider?
Ben White
Touted as a potential transfer target last summer, the 23-year-old centre-back was the subject of three rejected bids in the region of £30 million from Leeds United. That came after a season in which he was one of the stars of Leeds’ Championship title-winning campaign, but Brighton were unwilling to lose the young Englishman and instead signed him to a new deal.
That deal, running until 2024, was a shrewd piece of business from Brighton and White has rewarded the club hierarchy on the south coast with another season of good performances. A resolute tackler and perceptive off-ball defender, White also has the ball skills and passing ability that makes him a prime target for big clubs who spend a lot of time in possession. For Jurgen Klopp, who values a ball-playing centre-back like few other managers, White could be a permanent partner beside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Reds’ defence.
Meanwhile in midfield, with Gini Wijnaldum potentially set to leave, Liverpool have been heavily linked to White’s Brighton teammate Yves Bissouma. The Mali international has also been outstanding for the Seagulls in 2020/21, helping them stay up despite being tipped for relegation in the football odds. Graham Potter’s side will be hoping to keep on building as they look to lose the tag of relegation favourite.
Raphinha
Time is running out at Anfield for a number of players who have been surplus to requirements for some time. Among them, Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are all players who have struggled to get game time under Klopp this year despite the run of injuries.
While Leeds’ Brazilian winger Raphinha plays the same position as Mohamed Salah, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have shown the potential stopping power of a team with multiple weapons at one position. Being able to call on reliable – and match-fit – options both in midweek and at the weekends allows star players the occasional rest that Salah and Sadio Mane have hardly been afforded this season. In their absence, when the goal-scoring burden falls to players like Shaqiri or Origi, Liverpool have looked devoid of attacking ideas. Raphinha has been electric on both wings this season, often swapping with Jack Harrison on the left-hand side in Marcelo Bielsa’s system.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Up front, no one would suggest selling Roberto Firmino, but for all his good work in build-up play, the Brazilian has struggled to contribute in the Premier League this year. With Diogo Jota contributing more in less time, now might be the time to complement him with an out-and-out striker, someone with the killer instinct to win games of few chances.
No striker has had a stronger second half of the season than Kelechi Iheanacho. The former Manchester City backup has sparked to life under Brendan Rodgers, with a strong run of form since Jamie Vardy’s injury in February. That run of goals has come both as a lone striker and as a partner to Vardy after his return – Iheanacho is a flexible option who could share time with Firmino in a rotation at centre forward.
While the current Liverpool team has had its fair share of success in the last few years, there is no doubt that higher-quality squad depth is required if Klopp’s Reds are to challenge on multiple fronts in the coming seasons.
