Liverpool’s attention in the last month or so has been on the number six position, following the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai. With Fabinho gone, the team sorely needs a successor, but the Reds’ search has so far been fruitless.
Despite Liverpool having accepted a proposal for Moisés Caicedo, the Ecuadorean preferred a move to Chelsea than one to Anfield. The Reds appear to have failed in their pursuit of the Brighton midfielder.
This means Jürgen Klopp will have to start from scratch once more. The market for holding midfielders in world football is now difficult, and many of the greatest players in the position have already gone on this summer.
However, there is a player who may be available. Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s new kid, has already praised him, selecting him in his ‘dream XI’ at number six.
Szoboszlai was asked to identify his dream line-up of players he had played with in his career on Fabrizio Romano’s Here We Go show in 2021, and in the number six position, the Hungarian chose Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.
“Behind me, one of the two sixes would be Tyler Adams,” Szoboszlai explained to Romano. “He’s OK, he’s fine. He’s a boss.”
Szoboszlai and Adams are familiar with each other from Leipzig, making them an enticing combination for Liverpool, just as Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister would have been.
But what makes Adams a good fit for the Reds is the same thing that attracted Szoboszlai. The USMNT international, like the Hungarian, is a Red Bull product who came through the New York Red Bulls’ academy system before joining RB Leipzig.
He has been steeped in the gegenpressing style since he was a child, which should let him fit in at Liverpool much easier than other players in the similar position. Most importantly, he is for sale and available.
He is available for a bargain with a release clause of $25 million (£20 million/€23 million). According to David Ornstein, Chelsea was interested in Adams, as well as Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, but the transaction fell through, and now a number of major Premier League clubs are keeping an eye on the USMNT captain’s condition.
Adams is currently injured, making things more difficult for Liverpool. However, for a pittance of $25 million, he is worth the risk.
He demonstrated his talent and delivered amazing performances for Leeds United last season in the Premier League. Only in his absence was the club pulled into the relegation zone and eliminated from England’s top flight.
There are few better options at that price point than Adams, who is comfortable on the ball, capable of covering a lot of territory, and very adept defensively. Liverpool would also be able to acquire another midfielder for such a low fee, perhaps bolstering Klopp’s squad even further.
It’s a symbol that makes perfect sense. Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s new signing, would agree based on his previous comments.
