Recent sources claim that several Saudi clubs are interested in signing Fabinho, a defensive midfielder for Liverpool, for an estimated sum of over £40 million.
Only 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic would remain Jurgen Klopp’s only natural defensive midfielder if the Brazilian were to quit the team this summer.
This summer, the Reds have already frequently been connected with moves for Kephren Thuram of Nice and Romeo Lavia of Southampton, both of whom are estimated to be worth over £45 million.
Today, though, we’ll take a closer look at a few players who Liverpool may be interested in signing this summer but who you may not have heard of this transfer window.
IBRAHIMA SANGARE:
Defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, 25, is currently on the field with PSV Eidenhoven in the Eredivisie.
Since joining PSV from Toulouse in 2020, the Ivory Coast international has made 133 appearances in all leagues, contributing to nine more goals and scoring 13 of his own.
The midfielder played 45 times across all competitions in 2022–23, directly contributing to 12 goals.
Sangare has 31 Ivory Coast appearances under his belt and nine goals from defensive midfield.
Sangare has apparent creative skills, but he is also a terrific defensive player who can read the game effectively and is both physically and mentally strong.
The 25-year-old shows how advanced he can be with the ball by boasting an amazing average of 7.58 progressive passes and 6.29 passes towards the final third per 90 minutes last season.
Astonishingly, Sangare averaged 2.66 tackles and 9.69 ball recoveries for every 90 minutes played.
Should Fabinho depart the club, PSV would probably ask for a transfer price of roughly £40 million for Sangare, which the Reds wouldn’t have a problem paying.
LUIS FLORENTINO:
A defensive midfielder for SL Benfica in Portugal’s Liga Nos, Florentino Luis is a 23-year-old.
Liverpool has been linked to Luis in the past, but the Reds have never made a firm approach for the young Portuguese player.
A bid of about £25 million would probably be sufficient to convince Benfica to sell the 23-year-old, who would likely be less expensive than Sangare.
Since making his club debut, the midfielder has made 86 appearances for Benfica, contributing to four goals and one himself.
The 2022–23 season, in which Benfica advanced to the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals, saw 54 of those appearances.
Luis has put in strong performances for Benfica, but has yet to receive a call-up to the Portugal National Team.
Despite not being quite as forward-thinking as Sangare, Luis is just as competent of playing defense, which is the primary responsibility of the Fabinho role under Jurgen Klopp.
The remarkable 7.00 progressive passes that Luis still completes every 90 minutes is still significantly greater than Fabinho’s output for Liverpool last year.
On defense, Luis finished each 90 minutes with 7.00 ball recoveries, 3.48 tackles, 2.67 interceptions, and 1.10 blocks.
CAICEDO MOISES:
Caicedo, a 21-year-old midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion, is perhaps the least likely candidate on this list because he is anticipated to leave the team this summer.
The young Ecuadorian is expected to cost in the neighborhood of £70 million, with Chelsea presently leading Manchester United in interest.
However, there is a remote possibility that Liverpool will sabotage the deal for the highly regarded talent if players like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson decide to leave the club.
Caicedo was a notable player with Alexis Mac Allister, who moved to Anfield this summer, during his 43 appearances for the Seagulls last season.
During the 2022–23 season, the 21-year-old had 2.87 tackles and 7.11 ball recoveries per 90 minutes for Brighton.
Caicedo, who is frequently compared to N’Golo Kante, is a short, quick player who covers a lot of ground per game and would fit right in with Liverpool’s aggressive pressing strategies.
SUMMARY:
The Reds may have made the best investment in terms of value by selecting Ibrahim Sangare, in my opinion.
However, by signing Caicedo, you’d acquire a player who already fits the Premier League’s style, and a move would also stop Chelsea or Manchester United, two of your main rivals, from bolstering their rosters.
If the money wasn’t quite there after Liverpool went after Levi Colwill to bolster their defense, for instance, Florentino Luis would be a more affordable choice.
