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Liverpool has been having possibly its best season since the 2013-2014 season when the team nearly won the Premier League.
The Reds are currently third on the league table and into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League where it will come up against Premier League champions-elect, Manchester City.
Despite the best efforts of Mo Salah among others, the club has faltered on various occasions in both the league and cup competitions.
A big reason for this has been the lack of creativity from midfield. Jurgen Klopp has assembled a number of hardworking, energetic midfielders(captain Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Georgino Wijnaldum amongst others), none of whom can produce the incisive passing and creativity of Philippe Coutinho.
The absence of the Brazilian genius has been especially felt in games against teams that sit deep (the game against Manchester United a prime example) as the gegenpressing, high energy attacking style is easily nullified by opponents who choke the areas around the midfield and in front of the centre-backs.
Klopp and the board will need to fix this issue in the summer transfer window, here are 5 potential candidates that the club should have an eye upon:
#5 Max Meyer (Schalke 04)
Another of the German wunderkids that the Royal Blues have produced, Meyer has been at the Gelsenkirchen based club since he joined the youth-set up in 2009.
The 22-year-old has been part of the German national set-up at all levels boasts of the ability to play either as a playmaker or anywhere behind the main striker which would be a boon for Liverpool as this means that if he signs, he will be able to dovetail nicely with the Fab Three (Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane & Mo Salah).
While not the greatest of goalscorers, his ability to set up chances for teammates as well as his passing range coupled with his low centre of gravity means that if he signs, the forwards will get plenty of service from this brilliant German.
Set to leave Schalke on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the current season, he is already being scouted by major European clubs and Klopp would be wise to move in early.
Having captained Germany’s youth teams to win the Euros (U-21) last year & silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016, he is no stranger to responsibilities and his hardworking nature & team ethos would sit well with the prevailing philosophy at Liverpool of the team over the individual.
#4 Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen 04)
Already dubbed the new Mesut Özil due to parallels in playing style, the young playmaker is one player who would fit in perfectly with the ethos Kloop has created at Liverpool.
The fresh-faced 18-year-old made his senior debut as recently as October 2016, in the process, becoming Bayer 04’s youngest ever league debutant.
Blessed with a very sweet left foot, the Aachen-born player is a brilliant passer of the ball who has the eyes for a perfect pass and is capable of playing either as a winger or as a playmaker.
Playing in a team where each player is expected to work hard for the team regardless of talent, Kai is already used to being a hard worker and defending collectively, something that would stand him in good stead if he were to come to Anfield.
In 25 games so far this season, he has scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists and is a key component of the Werkself’s drive for a UCL spot.
He has been linked to Liverpool in the past as the club reportedly invited him to their Melwood training ground before the youngster signed his first professional contract with Bayer.
#3 Manuel Lanzini (West Ham)
La Joya (The Jewel) as he is fondly called, Lanzini has been one of the brightest sparks for the Irons since he joined the club.
He is one of the more underrated stars in the league and has been the creative force and midfield lynchpin since Dimitri Payet went walkabout last season. His close control, playmaking abilities, work rate and knack for goals have made him a firm favourite with the West Ham fans.
He already knows the Premier League so he would be no stranger to the rigours and demands of playing for a Klopp-led side.
His play bears a great semblance to that of Coutinho as he likes drifting across the park to pick up the ball and dictate play. He also loves having runners in front of him (Mikhail Antonio at the Hammers) as he is able to pick out these runners with pinpoint passes either from deep or close to the opponent’s goal.
He was linked to the Reds in the aftermath of Coutinho’s departure and is expected to be on their radar again in the summer especially if the Hammers fail to swim out of relegation waters.
#2 Juan Mata (Manchester United)
This would be one of the stranger transfers if it goes through but if Liverpool is looking for an inexpensive, experienced player who already understands the league, then Mata makes sense for Kloop and his band of merry men.
The former Chelsea man has been used in fits and starts by Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese turned up at Old Trafford and despite his advancing years (he turns 29 in April), he could be the Reds’ answer to the creativity-from-midfield question.
One of the nicest players in the league, Juan has been a fans’ favourite ever since he arrived in England from Valencia under Andre Villas-Boas in 2011.
Blessed with a very quick footballing brain and feet, Juan has been wowing fans with his creative skills either on the flanks or just behind the main striker.
As a consequence of being shunted across midfield by Mourinho, Mata has shown an adaptability that is admirable and could be of great importance to the Reds.
Very few players have gone directly to Anfield from Old Trafford (Tom Miller in 1912 remains the only one to do so) and it remains to be seen if the United board will sanction such a move but given the news emanating from United about Mourinho wanting a player clear out, Liverpool would be remiss if they fail to at least make an inquiry for the talented Spaniard.
#1 Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
The dream signing for a variety of reasons, signing the Great Dane would greatly boost Liverpool’s goalscoring as well as substantially weakening that of a direct rival.
Eriksen has been, without doubt, one of the most creative midfielders in the league since he joined Spurs from Ajax in 2013 and while the early days were a bit rocky, he has taken to the league like a fish to water.
In the strictest definition of the term “playmaker”, Eriksen is, without doubt, one of the most creative midfielders around and more often than not plays the way football fans of the 1980s and 1990s watched the great Michael Laudrup play.
A very elegant player whose vision, intelligence, quick thinking and dead ball ability stand him out; he has created 46 assists in 163 Premier League appearances and would be a great asset at set pieces for a Liverpool side that has failed to capitalize on free kicks and corners since Coutinho’s departure.
He is said to currently be negotiating an extension to his contract which ends in 2020 and he is said to be happy at Spurs, the promise of better pay and a more realistic shot at trophies offered by the Reds might sway him.
