How missing out on €100m star has led to Liverpool's midfield problems

Liverpool missing out on €100M star earlier this summer has led to their current midfield issues and it's why no signings have been made.

The Reds were in pole position to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco before he opted to sign for Real Madrid.

It wasn't enough for them to triumph over the Reds in the Champions League final - they always had to take their star target as well.

Since then, Liverpool haven't recruited in midfield and following an injury crisis, they're now in a precarious position of having no midfielders they can rely on.

How has missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni has led to Liverpool's midfield problems

Tchouameni signed in early June, well before Liverpool were scheduled to depart for their pre-season tour - if it feels like a long time ago, that's because it was!

Since then, the Reds have settled for their current midfield roster that is actually quite deep with no injuries. All PL sides would feel the struggle in midfield if four of their midfield options were injured.

Journalist David Lynch (no, not Hollywood director David Lynch) has talked about how Liverpool’s season has changed as a result of them not signing Tchouameni this summer.

“[It] makes you wonder whether a transitional season was accepted by the club’s hierarchy once it became apparent they would miss out on Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid this summer.” Lynch explained.

Before the season started, you could pick out the likes of James Milner's declining effect, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino in the final year of their deals and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a fringe player as issues to contend with for next summer.

However, due to their bad start and the injuries suffered, they are being forced to re-assess their plans and options. Suddenly, signing a midfielder becomes more problematic given that when all these midfielders return from injury, then Liverpool will have an abundance of players for those positions.

Signing someone now isn't as simple as just going and getting Youri Tielemans (for example) because they have to consider their plans for the summer. But needs must, and right now a midfielder is needed otherwise their success this season could be non-existant.

A signing has to make sense for the present and the future - and the age profiles of Tielemans, Ismael Bennacer and Moises Caicedo are all great options.