Liverpool have been in the market for a midfielder amidst rumours that Naby Keita may leave.
The midfielder is in the final year of his deal and has become unhappy with his current contract situation, according to reports.
With injuries in the squad to Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones, fans have demanded a new midfield signing but manager Jurgen Klopp has been hesitant to re-enter the market.
A midfielder that all the top teams did miss out on is Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães – who’s blossomed into a top midfielder already in the Premier League – exactly the type of player Liverpool wanted.
With players going for obscene amounts of money these days, we’ve looked at two bargain alternatives to Guimarães that Liverpool could sign.
Klopp: “New midfielder? If the right player is not available in this moment we tend to deal with what we have. It would be cool to have new midfielder in, of course”. 🚨🔴 #LFC
“Naby Keita will not go but if he would – he won't – there must be a replacement”. pic.twitter.com/UoqjsYI3Tj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2022
Player comparisons & potential signings
Thanks to FbRef, we can compare 10 players who are statistically similar to the likes of Guimaraes.
Keita is the most similar player, with Thiago the 10th most similar showing that Liverpool have identified the right profiles for their midfield.
Other players include top midfielders such as Joshua Kimmich, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic and Rodrigo de Paul – but obviously, they are unattainable.
But there are two players on the list who could be potential signings in the future: Khéphren Thuram-Ulie of Nice or Mahmoud Dahoud of Borussia Dortmund.
The conditions in which it has happened aside — I just love how competitive and talented the Premier League has gotten.
Bruno Guimarães, Allan Saint-Maximan are players you’d easily see in Champions League sides.
— Maram AlBaharna (@maramperninety) August 21, 2022
Thuram-Ulie could be one to keep an eye on given he’s only 21 and only has 82 league appearances but Dahoud is an experienced campaigner for Dortmund at 26 years old and his contract expires next summer.
Ulie has experience playing as the left-sided midfielder in a 4-3-3 whilst Dahoud has been utilised as a defensive midfielder in a double pivot in 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1.
He also has experience in a 4-3-3 too.
Neither would cost big money and both would have the right personality and profile to play in this Liverpool side – should they choose to sign a midfielder who isn’t Jude Bellingham.
