Liverpool’s search for a defensive midfielder seems to have finally ended with reports coming in that the Premier League side are in the race to sign Gary Medel from Inter Milan. The Chilean recently starred with the national team as they lifted the Copa America 2016 by defeating Argentina.
The 29-year-old has made 78 appearances for Inter over two seasons and even scored one goal for the club since moving in 2014. What could work in Medel’s favour is the fact he has Premier League experience.
Medel was part of the Cardiff City side in the 2013-14 season but the Welsh team could not avoid relegation and that led to the Chilean leaving the club the following summer. The deal, according to Central Deportes, is touted to be worth €13 million and it could include Lucas Leiva joining the Serie A side from Liverpool. Though there are reports suggesting that Inter have rejected this offer from the Premier League side.
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The Brazilian is the longest serving Liverpool player in the current team but his chances in the side have drastically gone down thanks to the emergence of Emre Can. Liverpool played with Jordan Henderson in the last game against Arsenal as the central midfielder and neither Can nor Leiva were part of the starting XI.
The Reds have been on the lookout for a quality defensive midfielder but have been pegged back as they were unable to sign Mahmoud Dahoud of Borussia Monchengladbach. Jurgen Klopp also had to deal with more misery in the transfer window as attempts to bring Mario Gotze to the Merseyside club failed and the German footballer returned to Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Options galore for Liverpool in midfield
The deal for Medel does seem to be a little confusing when it comes to the age of both players involved. Lucas Leiva and Gary Medel both are 29 at the moment and replacing one with the other might not lead to the results that supporters would expect.
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Emre Can would also be a better option in midfield at the moment than Medel, while James Milner and Marko Grujic can do a decent job in the heart of midfield. Academy stars such as Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan are also expected to be given opportunities in the side, thus giving Liverpool enough cover at the moment.
The Reds do lack a world class defensive midfielder and the feeling on Merseyside seems to be that the Chilean can provide the quality that Liverpool require.
