Jurgen Klopp can already call upon Keita and fellow midfielder Fabinho, and the manager wants to make more signings before the end of the summer transfer window
Liverpool are reportedly going to make a shock move to bring Paulo Dybala to Anfield from Juventus.
According to reports, the Reds want to sign Dybala knowing Juve could cash in on the Argentina ace to fund their move from Cristiano Ronaldo.
This would be another brilliant signing for Liverpool, who have been moving quickly to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Jurgen Klopp and his staff wrapped up the signing of Fabinho, the midfielder, from Monaco just days after the club’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Fabinho joins Naby Keita, bought last year from RB Leipzig, at Anfield, with the pair currently in pre-season training with the Reds.
It is clear Klopp is trying to fix the weaknesses that exist in his already brilliant squad as he plots Liverpool’s route to silverware after a number of near misses since he was named manager of the Anfield club.
Klopp’s superb 4-3-3 system gets the best out of his players, with the full-backs allowed to push up, and all the attacking players offered unlimited creative freedom in the final third.
But how could Liverpool look next season with the already confirmed signings, and other reported arrivals?
Scroll down to find out…
Liverpool look certain to start the new season with Karius as their first-choice glovesman, despite the German’s horror show in the Champions League final. There have been rumours the Reds want to sign Alisson, the Roma and Brazil star, Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid, or Lazio’s Thomas Strakosha to fix their goalkeeping issue, but quotes from Klopp suggest he is happy with Karius heading into 2018/19.
Once Virgil van Dijk arrived at Liverpool from Southampton in January, the Reds’ defence developed into one of the best in the Premier League. There have been no indications Klopp wants to replace any his current first-choice back four, and even the rotation options – Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan – are largely acceptable.
The only position that really needs to be looked at this summer is left-back, with Albert Moreno the only back-up to Andy Robertson. Robertson is a guaranteed starter, but Moreno needs to be replaced with a more suitable player in case the Scotland international faces an extended spell on the sidelines through injury or faces a loss of form.
Even last summer, it was clear Liverpool’s midfield was the one area which needed improving, and that is why Klopp moved to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. With Keita arriving at Anfield this year, many expected Klopp to be happy with his options in the centre of the park, and everyone was surprised when Fabinho was confirmed as a Liverpool player just days after the Champions League final.
The incoming duo should be guaranteed starters on Merseyside – Fabinho as the holding midfielder, Keita as the box-to-box option – with new transfer target Paulo Dybala taking up the more attacking role on the right side of the three.
The Reds have made various moves to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in this attacking midfield position this summer, with Nabil Fekir all but confirmed as a Liverpool player before his transfer from Lyons collapsed. There is a chance talks could reopen after the World Cup, but if a deal for Dybala is confirmed, there will be no need for Liverpool to sign Fekir as well as the Argentina international.
Like their defence, Liverpool’s front three does not need touching this summer. When on form, Salah, Firmino and Mane combine to create perhaps the best attacking trio in the country – maybe even in Europe – and the only worry for Klopp is if the biggest clubs on the continent come calling; Salah and Mane have already been linked with potential moves to Real Madrid.
Nonetheless, Klopp has work to do improving the depth of his squad in terms of attacking options, having only been able to call upon the likes of Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke off the bench last season.
The previously mentioned Dybala can provide cover in any of the attacking positions if required, while Klopp has also been linked with moves for Malcom, the Bordeaux winger, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, and Hakim Ziyech of Ajax.
