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Liverpool have found themselves struggling in the Premier League this season with an inconsistent run of performances leading to a league position of sixth ahead of the World Cup break.

Indeed, there are many contributing factors to the poor form the Reds have displayed over their first 14 league outings so far but one of the key concerns is the lack of reinvestment into the team, particularly midfield.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s and are picking up knocks regularly this season.

Not only that, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all entering the last six months of their contracts meaning that the Merseysiders could fall short in the summer if they don’t start acquiring the services of elite talent in the centre of the pitch.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Anfield is West Ham United and England midfielder Declan Rice, with journalist Neil Jones revealing what it would take to sign the talented ace.

Speaking on The Redmen TV YouTube channel, Jones claimed:

“I think you would need to lose Fabinho if he [Declan Rice] came. He’s going to be anywhere upwards of £70 million.”

Reports have stated that any fee could actually be in the region of a whopping £150m but it’s hard to suggest he wouldn’t be worth such a price.

Fabinho hasn’t had the best start to the season but he certainly isn’t the only midfielder who has been inconsistent this season and it would be a big risk to sell the Brazilian without certainty that a player can come in and be as effective as he has been in the past.

When you compare the £180k-per-week ace with Rice over this season the West Ham ace has outperformed Fabinho in many attributes, namely in a defensive capacity.

Rice is more assured in possession of the ball, registering a higher pass completion rate (89.1% v 87.9%), while he makes more tackles and interceptions combined (60 v 41), tackles a larger portion of dribblers (75% v 39.1%) and wins more aerial duels (60% v 50%).

It is no secret that FSG has a strict structure when it comes to their recruitment strategy and prefers to sell players before they reinvest in new signings and with Fabinho the only midfielder left who isn’t out of contract and not in the latter stages of his career, he would likely be the most valuable asset to sell.

There is no doubt that the England star – who reporter Tommy Wathen claimed is “unreal” and Bianca Westwood suggested is a “superstar” – would provide Liverpool with not only the youthful energy that the side is in desperate need of but also a significant amount of Premier League experience which would be hugely advantageous should he been signed.

With that being said, the idea of selling Fabinho isn’t the worst but it could be risky if Liverpool don’t execute their recruitment perfectly by potentially signing Rice and building a new midfield around him.

Former Celtic star Charlie Nicholas is concerned at what is happening at Celtic, believing the stall on new deals for key players could impact the future of Ange Postecoglou. 

The Lowdown: Big players, little returns

Amidst the current debacle on the contract front for key players like Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis, Nicholas feels both players could leave Parkhead in the near future. 

Both assets are fundamental to Postecoglou’s project in Parkhead, with Giakoumakis finishing as the top scorer in the league last season despite having started just ten games. 

Juranovic meanwhile has been a regular starter from the get go under the Australian boss and has shone for Croatia at the World Cup.

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The Latest: Nicholas’ fears

According to Daily Express columnist Nicholas, there is a fear that Celtic’s transfer policy of selling big assets for little returns could irritate Postecoglou in the same way that it did for Brendan Rodgers back in 2019.

It makes the building process a lot tougher, with key assets departing after just a season or so, putting a dominant side like Celtic in a constant motion of rebuilding.

Nicholas fears Postecoglou will not take any nonsense from the Hoops hierarchy and will likely not tolerate not having a say on his players’ futures.

The Verdict: Worrying indeed

It’s hard to disagree with Nicholas’ worries surrounding the club’s transfer dealings.

Postecoglou is an ambitious figure, as seen by his unprecedented action of already wrapping up two January signings before the official commencement of the winter window. 

His actions demonstrate his competency in charge and his proactive approach to his role in Parkhead.

Like Rodgers, he will eventually grow tired of having key assets prised away from his clutches, with his ambition level clearly strong enough to see him want to take the club as far as possible, particularly in European competition.

Wolves have been linked with Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna recently and Julen Lopetegui should bring him to Molineux after an impressive World Cup display.

According to Spanish news outlet Vamos mi Sevilla, Wolves are keen on signing the versatile defender in next month’s transfer window but could face competition from a number. of clubs across Europe.

The report claims that the La Liga side wants just €12m (£10m) for the Argentina international in January, after informing the 31-year-old that his services are no longer required.

Loptegui is certainly a big fan of the former Sporting Lisbon man, as he played him on 84 occasions during his time in charge of Los Hispalenses, in which time he contributed two goals and eight assists.

Wolves have rotated between Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno at left-back for much of this season, so Acuna could add some much-needed experience at the back, as the Old Gold look to stave off relegation to the Championship.

If Acuna’s performance in Argentina’s penalty shootout win over the Netherlands on Friday night is anything to go by, then he would certainly be an excellent addition to Lopetegui’s squad.

As per SofaScore, the defender would earn an impressive 7.3/10 rating for his display, with only Lionel Messi and Wout Weghorst ranked higher.

During his time on the pitch, the Sevilla star would contribute three tackles, one interception and nine successful ground duels, as he epitomised Argentina’s battling performance in what was a fiercely contested tie against the Netherlands.

Acuna also looked going forwards, as he completed both of his dribble attempts during the game and won the penalty for Argentina’s second goal of the game after some good skill in the box to deceive Denzel Dumfries.

It is telling that both of the Netherlands’ goals came after Acuna was replaced on 78 minutes, as they clearly missed his experience and presence on the pitch to see the game out.

Therefore, after such a “huge” display on the biggest stage – in the words of journalist Ignacio Raposo –  Wolves should definitely look to bring Acuna to Molineux in January.

Indeed, performances like his one on Friday night could prove crucial in keeping the Old Gold in the Premier League.

Liverpool have had their worst start to a Premier League season in a decade and with the transfer market opening up again next month, the club have been linked with a new potential target.

What’s the latest?

According to reports coming out of Spain, Liverpool are interested in signing Villarreal star Alex Baena.

As per the report, the young forward has become one of the hottest prospects in La Liga and has started to attract attention from Premier League clubs with the Reds named alongside Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal as interested parties.

It is reported further that Baena has a €35m (£30m) release clause that Villarreal are desperate to increase by tying the player into a long-term contract in an effort to deter interest.

Imagine him & Nunez

It is no secret that Liverpool are prioritising their midfield rebuild during the upcoming transfer windows ahead, however, there is no doubt that strengthening the forward line would only improve the quality of the team’s already-formidable attacking threat.

The Reds let go of Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino over the summer and only added Darwin Nunez to bolster their attack following the departures so there is definitely room to add depth in the forward positions, especially considering that Liverpool tend to compete ruthlessly in all competitions.

As a result, the signing of Baena would be a huge coup for Liverpool and could give them more options when dealing with congested fixtures, to allow them to maintain the high quality expected on all fronts in all competitions.

The 21-year-old rising star – who was hailed “spectacular” by writer Pablo Benitez – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots on goal, progressive passes received and touches, proving that he is a phenomenal attacking presence in his team.

Over 13 LaLiga appearances this season, Baena has scored four goals, created two big chances and completed 64% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.4 shots on goal, 24.6 touches and 2.6 duels won per game.

One of the most fitting attributes that the talented player possesses is his versatility in positioning something that would be highly valued by Klopp as he likes his players to be capable of moving around the pitch to pose unpredictability on opponents, especially in the forward line.

Baena is predominantly a left winger but has a lot of experience in the attacking midfield and right winger roles too, making him the perfect partner to work with Nunez by playing alongside the Uruguayan striker to strengthen attacking opportunities delivered to Nunez from different positions on the pitch.

With that being said, the signing of Baena would be a great piece of business for the powers at Anfield, however, they will need to produce a very tempting offer to fend off their Premier League rivals also in pursuit of his signature.

Leeds United have been dealt a potential blow in their bid to bring Ola Aina to Elland Road.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport, who claim that, having now fully recovered from a hamstring injury that has seen the 26-year-old ruled out of first-team action since October, Torino are hoping to tie the right-back down to a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico – with the defender’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

This is sure to have come as a huge blow to Victor Orta and Leeds United, as further reports from Italy last week claimed that the Whites are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Nigeria international ahead of launching a potential move for the full-back in the January transfer window – when Aina is free to discuss pre-contract terms with a new suitor.

Time to replace Firpo

Considering just how much Leeds have struggled at left-back over the past two seasons, coupled with Aina being more than capable of operating from the left flank if required, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be interested in a deal to bring the former Chelsea starlet to Elland Road this winter.

Indeed, over his 21 Serie A fixtures – £3.6m-rated full-back highly impressed going forwards, creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

The £30k-per-week talent also impressed in metrics more typically associated with his position, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 1.2 clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.

These returns saw the player who Michael Oti Adjei dubbed “unreal” average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Il Toro’s joint 15th-best player in the top flight of Italian football last time out.

For comparison, over Junior Firpo’s 24 Premier League appearances last season, the £10.3m-rated left-back made an average of 2.5 tackles, one interception, 1.3 clearances and won 4.9 duels – at an equal success rate of 53% – per game.

The £55k-per-week defender failed to offer Leeds much going forwards, scoring no goals, providing two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 26-year-old average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.60, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s seventh-worst performer in the top flight of English football last time out.

As such, it is clear to see that Firpo is simply not a good enough first choice for Leeds heading into the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, and, considering just how impressive the €10m (£8.6m) valued Aina has been for Torino in recent years, it would very much appear as if the 26-year-old would be something of a dream replacement for Marsch this winter.

Southampton supporters, can you get 100% in this all-time transfer quiz?

It’s been a mixed year for the St. Mary’s side who welcomed new owners Sport Republic to the helm at the very start of 2022.

Southampton made serious moves in the summer transfer market by signing a plethora of exciting young stars, but perhaps they should’ve been joined by more experienced figureheads.

A lacklustre start to the Premier League season saw the club sack long-serving manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and replace him with ex-Luton Town boss Nathan Jones.

Heading into the January transfer window, the south coast side could back their new manager with some new signings in a bid to avoid relegation.

Bearing this in mind, we’ve complied an all-time Saints transfer quiz to test your knowledge on the deals of the past.

Thank you for engaging with The Transfer Tavern throughout what has been an entertaining 12 months, and as a gesture of good will on Christmas, we hope you enjoy this bit of festive trivia.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva’s future at the Etihad Stadium is ‘up in the air, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Silva’s City future

The Portugal star is still tied down on a long-term deal with the Premier League champions, with his current contract not set to expire until June 2025, although there has been talk about him completing a move away from the club.

Barcelona have been potential suitors for Silva since the summer, although there have since been reports that the Catalan giants have recently decided to cool their interest as Man City’s valuation of the player is deemed too high, considering that he will be 29 next August.

While Xavi’s side are no longer plotting a move, it is now being reported that the midfielder’s future at the Etihad could still be in doubt…

The Latest: Heading for the exit?

According to a report from The Athletic, Silva’s future as a City player is still ‘up in the air’, and Pep Guardiola may choose to cash in on a big offer if one arrives sooner rather than later.

However, a concern for the City manager would be finding a suitable replacement, with fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan’s contract coming to an end in June as things stand.

The Verdict: Silva must stay

Hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by football presenter Joe Thomlinson, Silva has been a fantastic servant for Guardiola since arriving at City in 2017, and he has continued to be an important player this season.

The 78-cap Portugal international has featured in all 14 of the Citizens’ Premier League games so far this term, scoring twice and bagging five assists, highlighting his aptitude for bringing his team-mates into the play and providing them with opportunities to finish.

This is also indicated by an average of 0.28 assists per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, while a match average of 3.95 shot-creating actions in the same period puts him in the 93rd percentile.

It could be very difficult to find a replacement who’s good enough to match this return, so Guardiola should hold onto Silva for the foreseeable future.

Manchester United are continuing to monitor high-flying Italian outfit Napoli’s centre-back Kim Min-jae, who has become an integral cog in his side…

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb have recently claimed that Napoli are considering offering Kim a new contract to combat the rising attention from the likes of the Red Devils for his signature, following earlier reports last year that the club were vying for his name.

Signed as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, who arrived at Chelsea in a £33m deal following years of service, the defender has swiftly established himself as one of the leading defenders in the Serie A, starring in as side that tops the table and is yet to taste defeat this term.

With Man United’s Harry Maguire under sustained scrutiny for years now, Kim could be an excellent replacement for the England ace, who might find his future at Old Trafford up in the air over the coming months.

Big Maguire upgrade

The Premier League giants have steadied the ship under Ten Hag following years of trepidation and turbulence, currently perched in fourth place in the division after 16 matches, having won four of the past five matches.

Maguire, after serving as a regular starting figure in the fold last season, has now only made three starts in the league this season, on the periphery thanks to the exploits of Raphael Varane and £56.7m summer signing Lisandro Martinez.

As per Sofascore, the 29-year-old recorded an average rating last term of 6.91, making just 1.1 tackle per match and keeping only six clean sheets from 30 appearances in the Premier League.

His stagnant showings and inability to emanate assurance and composure on a consistent basis have resulted in a barrage of criticism aimed at his neck for a considerable amount of time now, with his world-record £80m price tag certainly not helping his case.

With Jim reportedly holding a release clause of €50m (£44m), and boasting an impressive, dynamic set of skills, it appears to be a no-brainer when considering the future of Old Trafford, and who will be deployed in front of the goal.

The South Korean phenom has recorded an average rating of 7.22 in the Serie A this term, scoring two goals, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 0.4 key passes per match – illustrating his creative flair that could ignite United transitions right from the base of the side.

And his defensive statistics are impressive too; his 1.6 tackles, 3.9 clearances and 1.1 interceptions per game are complemented by his five clean sheets from 14 matches, bolstering the claim from teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia that the titan is an “iron barrel” in the face of adversity.

With Kim only 26 years old, John Murtough must look to snap him up and cement a fortified presence within the backline for years to come, upgrading on Maguire in the process.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Liverpool have not placed a bid for midfielder Moises Caicedo despite recent reports to the contrary.What’s the word?With the January transfer window now open, a number of Premier League teams are expected to use the next month to strengthen their squads for the remained of the season.In fact, the Reds have already dipped into the market to sign Dutch winger Cody Gakpo from PSV. And, according to Ecuadorian outlet Teradeportes (via football.london), Liverpool have also had a £62m bid for Brighton midfielder Caicedo rejected too.However, it seems as though that report might not be entirely accurate, depending on who you believe. Indeed, while talking on the Born And Red podcast, Jacobs said that no bid has been tabled as of yet.He said: “My understanding very early and from the word go has always been that Liverpool have not bid for Caicedo and I am confident in that position still having made a series of enquiries.”And the reason why they haven’t made a bid is because Brighton are under no obligation to sell, especially not mid-season.”New midfielder incoming?It certainly wouldn’t be a shock if the Reds were hoping to sign a new midfielder in the near future. After all, Jude Bellingham has long been touted as a possible target. On top of that, they have been said to ‘appreciate’ Argentina and Benfica star Enzo Fernandez.And so, it remains plausible that they would be keeping tabs on Caicedo but it sounds as if they aren’t quite prepared to make a concrete offer for the player just yet.The Brighton ace caught the eye at the World Cup with Qatar this winter and even earned the praise from Spain and Barcelona midfielder Pedri.Indeed, the Spaniard said: “The one I’ve seen who has most surprised me was the one from Ecuador, Moises Caicedo.“He’s very good, he’s top, I like him a lot.”

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Rumoured Liverpool transfer target Moises Caicedo is set to change agents as he looks to secure a move away from Brighton, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Caicedo a Liverpool target

The Reds produced another hapless midfield showing on Saturday night, with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago all struggling in the 2-2 draw against Wolves in the FA Cup third round.

It is clear that reinforcements are required in the middle of the park, given the Reds’ ongoing struggles in that sector, and Caicedo has emerged as a primary target, with numerous reports linking him with a move to Anfield.

An interesting update has emerged regarding the Brighton gem’s future, one which suggests that a move away might just be on the cards.

The Latest: Caicedo planning agency switch

Writing on Substack [via Caught Offside], Romano claimed that Caicedo is now planning on switching agents amid his openness for a transfer.

The Italian stated:

“I think Moises Caicedo would be open to joining any top club, this is why he’s going to have new agents soon.

“I don’t know his preference as of today, I’m not aware of any conversation with friends about Liverpool, but for sure he’s hoping for a big move.”

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The Verdict: Perfect January signing?

It is simply essential that Liverpool sign a midfielder in the January transfer window before making further additions in that area this summer, with long-time target Jude Bellingham hopefully coming in at some stage.

However, Caicedo stands out as arguably the best option to be signed in the next few weeks, considering his Premier League experience and how he has excelled for Brighton, while he would reportedly cost just half of the £130m price tag which has been quoted for Bellingham.

He would add the legs and tenacity that Liverpool’s midfield is so seriously lacking at the moment, having averaged 2.9 tackles per game in the league this season. No Reds player can match that tally, with Thiago the closest on 2.8 per match.

Hopefully FSG can pounce on the player’s reported willingness for a transfer and his proposed change of agency.

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