Liverpool chasing £50m “big talent” in 2025

Liverpool are flying excessive this time period, and are trying like severe candidates to win the Premier League at this stage. Arne Slot’s males sit on the high of the tree at Christmas, with 39 factors to their title and a sport in hand.

Their star man this time period has, in fact, been Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star has scored 18 instances and has 15 assists to his title in 24 video games throughout all competitions. He has been distinctive. Ryan Gravenberch has additionally thrived this time period, in a brand new function as a quantity six. Peter Crouch defined he has been “top notch all season” as a deeper midfielder.

To enrich the Dutchman, Liverpool are eyeing up a brand new addition in midfield as they proceed their title cost.

Liverpool’s midfield goal

The participant in query right here is Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez. It has been a formidable season up to now for the midfielder in Portugal, and he has now been linked with a transfer away from the membership.

Based on a report from Anfield Watch, Liverpool scouts have been ‘have been utterly blown away’ by the 22-year-old midfielder. The report explains it was assumed that the Reds went to look at his teammate, Alan Varela, however Gonzalez has caught the attention.

Initially a graduate of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy, there’s a buyback clause in his deal for the La Liga giants. That price is believed to be round £50m, and it might price Liverpool an analogous price in the event that they want to pry him away from Porto themselves.

Described as a “large expertise” and the “inheritor to Busquets” by Spanish soccer skilled Domagoj Kostanjšak, the Reds could be getting a artful participant right here.

Why Gonzalez could be a great signing

Upon listening to that Gonzalez is a La Masia graduate, that will effectively pique Liverpool fan’s curiosity within the participant.

It’s no secret that the expertise to return out of Barca’s academy is other-worldly. He additionally comes from a prestigious footballing household. His father, Fran Gonzalez, is a Deportiva La Coruna legend, enjoying 559 instances for the membership in a few of their finest years.

Shifting the main focus again to the 22-year-old, his expertise is plain, and he’s having a improbable season for Porto. A flexible midfielder, he has performed 24 instances, scoring 5 objectives and grabbing a handful of assists too.

Gonzalez is a high-energy participant who can play in a number of positions as a midfielder. Considered one of his finest traits is his urgent means. The Spaniard won’t cease operating and pressuring the opponents, one thing which led to his purpose towards Arouca earlier within the season.

The centre of midfield was a place Liverpool have been hoping to strengthen in Slot’s first summer time switch window. They have been chasing one other Spanish midfielder over the summer time, Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. Nevertheless, the participant determined to remain the place he was and rejected the provide.

Now, it appears the Reds are turning their consideration to his countryman Gonzalez. While the Porto man is much more versatile and enjoys getting ahead extra, they don’t seem to be too dissimilar statistically, consequently famous as ‘comparable gamers’ by FBref in final time period’s Champions League.

Numerical comparisons will be drawn from their numbers in that prestigious competitors. Firstly, tackles and interceptions are one thing Zubimendi barely edges, with 3.16 per sport in comparison with 2.4 for Gonzalez.

The Actual Sociedad man additionally made barely extra progressive passes per sport on common, with 5.44 in comparison with 2.8 for the Porto quantity 16. Nevertheless, he created barely extra possibilities, with 1.6 on common. In distinction, Zubimendi created 0.63 possibilities per sport.

Definitely, the similarities are there between the 2 gamers. If the Reds make a transfer for Gonzalez, it might be paying homage to the try at signing Zubimendi final summer time and reveals their intent at strengthening in midfield.

Nevertheless, you possibly can argue attributable to his versatility, it’s truly a greater deal for the Merseysiders. He’ll permit Slot to have much more tactical flexibility, with Gonzalez, who thrives as an eight, capable of fill in as a six or perhaps a 10 as effectively.

Regardless, for round £50m this might be an amazing transfer for the Reds. Gonzalez was described as a “pure pleasure to look at” by soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig, and this transfer might be the factor Liverpool wants to assist them recover from the road within the title race.