Liverpool are "showing serious interest" in dominant Champions League midfielder with great passing

Amid claims that Fulham lead the race to sign Andre Trindade, Liverpool are reportedly investigating switching their attention to 20-year-old star Lucas Gourna-Douath.

Brazilian outlet UOL suggests that Fulham, who tried to sign Andre in January 2023 for around 18 million, are now pushing the hardest to sign him from Fluminense in 2024.

The January transfer window is drawing closer and closer yet Liverpool may be back to square one in terms of their plans to sign a new no.6. Andre choosing Fulham over Liverpool (and Arsenal) would be a very bold move but only time will tell whether those claims are true.

Liverpool are showing serious interest in 20-year-old Lucas Gourna-Douath

Journalist Francois Plateau reports: "Liverpool are showing serious interest in RB Salzburg midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath ahead of the January transfer window."

Jurgen Klopp's squad is in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder but Gourna-Douath is a risky option given his age. He's certainly not short on talent but having yet to step up to a top five league at just 20, Liverpool will be making a bold move bringing him to Anfield.

However, like I said, the young midfielder is extremely talented as evidenced by these these stats from Fbrefs.

According to the site's data, Gourna-Douath has been one of the most aerially dominant midfielders in this season's Champions League, ranking in the 96th percentile with 2.73 aerial duels won per 90.

That sort of aerial dominance would make him a mean machine in the Premier League if Liverpool were to follow through on their "serious" interest in the French midfielder.

In addition to that, he is extremely proactive with his passing and is amongst the best this season in Europe for long passes completed, playing an average of 11 long passes per 90 with an accuracy of 74%. Compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Scouser attempts just below 19 long passes per 90 on average but with a much lower accuracy of 50%.

Given the Liverpool vice-captain's status as one of the best passers in Europe, Lucas Gourna-Douath will be quite happy with this comparison.