Liverpool’s problems are becoming increasingly clear and the ideal solution may lie in Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras, a player sold by Man United just eight months ago.
Finding a potential transfer destination for Liverpool feels like a wasted effort.
With less than two weeks until the transfer deadline on February 3, it looks like there will be no further additions to Arne Slott’s double-table top squad.
The £41.5 million spent over the last three periods equates to just 186 minutes that Federico Chiesa has played on the pitch. The Dutch head coach has worked his magic on the players he signed and developed under his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s stance has always been that when a team is this good, it’s hard to find anything better.
The Athletic’s James Pearce insisted the club is “ready and waiting to respond if a meaningful long-term deal is made”.
The mission is therefore to find a player who can add momentum to the trophy hunt in 2024/25 and secure his place for years to come.
Which position should I prioritize?
There is potential fluidity up front, with Mohamed Salah yet to be secured, Darwin Nunez increasingly seen as having his future elsewhere, and Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota each It is now time to renew or sell the contract.
Chiesa hopes to overcome his fitness issues and be able to post regularly.
But in the short term, losing Jota once again leaves the intriguing prospect of Jayden Dunn making a cameo should he resist a loan offer to the Championship.
The defensive midfield was targeted for improvement this summer, but with the signing of Martin Zvimendi falling through, Ryan Gravenbirch has emerged as an excellent number six.
There should be another player to compete with the young Dutchman and give him some rest from time to time, but Slott can solve that problem from within, even if Wataru Endo has yet to start in any important games this term. I believe that.
Man City have proved difficult to find proven quality in this position over the course of the season, with Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister providing capable replacements.
Similarly, Slott reinforced the four front center backs with part-time midfielders. Endo and Graben-Birch have shown to be reliable in certain situations, while Jarrell Quansah and Joe Gomez have been competent substitutes at right-back.
Both divisions will need to act quickly, especially with the departures of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but clubs on sale will have to deal with the battle for trophies, European places or avoiding relegation. Since it is not currently in progress, the summer season will be a great opportunity.
Klopp had considered Gomez as an option at left-back, but Slott’s side had half of the Carabao Cup games under their belt despite injury problems with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.
The gritty Scot is a legendary figure who won everything Liverpool deserved to win, but this season shows his time at the top is just around the corner. Tsimikas has not been able to match his early-season form since his return, and both players have been targeted by opposing teams.
Liverpool will be 30 and 29 years old respectively by the end of the season, and with Owen Beck not showing the level that Conor Bradley did when he came from the loan system to the first team, Liverpool are looking to sign a left-back. You should.
What qualities does a slot left-back need?
Variety.
In the build-up, the left-back is narrow and forms a back three alongside the centre-back, while the right-back is placed further forward.
When Liverpool are camped on the edge of the opposition’s final third, they need to overlap their pace and stamina to create space for Dias and Codi Gakpo to cut inside.
The ideal candidate is an accurate and consistent crosser who will often find himself in the back post space when teams double up on Salah and will also be a goal threat.
We usually prioritize attacking modern full-backs, but he must also be adept at one-on-one defending and be able to deal with aerial and physical attacks in the Premier League.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of left-back signings this month, suggesting they have a wealth of quality options.
Anthony Robinson, Milos Kerkes, Rayan Ait Nouri, Patrick Dorg, and Miguel Gutierrez are all under discussion, but I believe there’s one candidate who stands out from the rest: He has the potential to be the next defensive superstar.
Álvaro Carreras has only been with Benfica for a year, but he is already the club’s most exciting talent.
The 21-year-old has three goals and four assists in 30 games this season, and in addition to his offensive numbers, his defensive ability has also been praised.
Why is Carreras the best candidate?
For those who discount the quality of Portugal’s Primera Liga, Benfica and Barcelona’s big hits in the Champions League prove exactly what Carreras can bring.
He was always a threat in attack, using his speed and intelligence to exploit space, appearing either on the outside or through the middle.
His assist for Vangelis Pavlidis’ first goal was the kind of ball that defenders hate: fast and accurate. Defensively, he silenced the supremely talented Lamine Yamal with four interceptions, three tackles and two clearances.
Even his late mistakes (conceding a penalty too easily, a lack of concentration that allowed Rafinha the winning goal) could be mitigated by surprising circumstances.
The data is even more conclusive than an eye test.
* Statistics visuals by DataMB
A high-volume passer with a high pass success rate, primarily in dangerous areas, Carreras has Alexander-Arnold’s qualities if Slott wants or has to play with a traditional right-back like Bradley. can be covered.
Compared to other candidates, Carreras has a clear advantage in terms of winning percentage of aerial and ground battles, amount of passes, and active passes made.
He is younger than Robinson, stronger than Gutierrez, more focused than Kerquez, more of a goal threat than Dorg, and a more progressive passer than Ait Nouri.
When you’re looking for a player who ticks all the boxes, Carreras stands out.
How the transaction works
This may be the difficult part. Carreras was sold to Benfica by Man United, who inserted a buy-back clause requiring them to spend just €20 million (approximately £16.9 million).
For another team, his release clause is reported to be €50 million (about £42.2 million), which is about the same as the amount Bournemouth are seeking to sell Kelkes.
Ruben Amorim’s side have been linked with a number of left-backs, including Querques, Dorg, Ait Nouri and Gutierrez, while Tyrrell Malasia is also looking for a new club, so will exercise Carreras’ option. would seem like a natural move.
Yet the Old Trafford side have consistently avoided the obvious. That’s how they let a talented player like Carreras go for just £5 million in the first place.
Perhaps they feel Carreras is not suited to play at wing-back, which may suggest they are not paying attention, but as it stands United are He also leaves the door open to players.
There is no doubt that Liverpool are the better option for a young and ambitious player.
The sale of Joao Neves to PSG means Benfica are no longer in dire need of funds, but Benfica’s transfer model is structured to allow talented young players to move on.
Losing to Barcelona risks missing out on a place in the Champions League knockout stages, and in that scenario Liverpool may not have to pay the full termination fee.
Barcelona are also an interested club, but apart from the ever-present financial issues, they also have a young talent in Alejandro Balde.
Liverpool’s financial problem is not a lack of money, but a clear lack of desire to spend it.
But if they’re just looking for a game changer, there’s no better option than the guy their rival left behind.
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