Liverpool are looking for new midfielders. We've seen the Reds being linked with the likes of Bellingham, Gavi and Rice; all of them are excellent players and we would love to have them at Anfield.
But here are four more players who deserve to be in the conversation when we talk about a midfield reboot at Liverpool.
Mateo Kovacic
If you look at how the Croatian plays, you'll see that he's a typical Klopp midfielder. Workmanlike, never afraid to go into challenges, a good presser (and someone difficult to press) and one of the best midfielders to make progressive passes.
He doesn’t score much but when he does, it’s a banger:
Unlike Mason Mount who splits opinions, Kovacic is one player Chelsea fans would hate to see go.
Chelsea, however, seem open to letting him go after splashing an insane amount of money on Enzo Fernandez — so let's use Todd Boehly's spending spree to our advantage and get the midfield gem the Blues do not appreciate enough.
Piotr Zielinski
The Poland international used to be extensively linked with a Liverpool move but a move hasn't materialised and the rumours have died down.
If there were ever interest in the Napoli midfielder, there's no better time to bring it back to life than now. Zielinski is enjoying his best season in Naples, with seven goals and 10 assists in 36 games so far. He's out of contract in 2024 so could be available on a relatively low fee in the summer. As he's already 28, this year is likely his last chance to move to the Premier League.
Oh, and he's already worn a Liverpool shirt once — he put it on while on air on Polish TV. What's not to like?
Gabri Veiga
Still largely unknown outside La Liga, Spanish football's latest revelation would give Liverpool what they have lacked for many years: goals from the midfield.
Nine goals in 25 matches this season, and that's for a side involved in a relegation dogfight. Put this guy into a more technical, attacking team and watch him fly.
Liverpool could probably ask Iago Aspas, a Celta legend who plays alongside Veiga, to convince the midfielder to move to Anfield. Veiga is just 20 years old so signing him would mean securing the Reds' long-term future. His release clause though is rumoured to be €40m — is that too much to ask of FSG?
Dani Ceballos
This one might be a bit controversial as not much has been heard about Ceballos after he left Arsenal back in 2021. There are two reasons why the Spaniard isn't really talked about: Kroos and Modric. If Ceballos played in most other teams in the world — including Liverpool — he would be a starter.
Not like he complains about his role. "I don't want a new contract if I don't deserve it – or go to another club if I don't deserve it either,” he said this month. “I don't want the best contract. I want the people, the board and the club to decide if I am good enough for them.
"Modric has to be my example. I have been good for two months, but Luka and Toni [Kroos] have been at the highest level for 10 or 12 years.”
The 26-year-old is naturally a good creator but excels as a box-to-box, the role he learned on loan at Arsenal. He attacks, he tracks back and defends, he puts pressure on the opposition and he's a good set-piece taker.
The best part? Ceballos is out of contract in the summer. Liverpool can get him on a free transfer, if they move before Madrid offer him a renewal or Bayern snap him up.
