Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is currently suffering a minor case of injury Déjà vu as what was previously a wealth of midfield options becomes very few.
The Reds were already down to four senior midfielders in the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion when Naby Keita was forced off inside the opening 30 minutes at Anfield.
Klopp confirmed the Guinean had picked up a hamstring issue but couldn’t suggest how long the 26-year-old would be sidelined for.
Amidst the crisis, Italian outlet Tuttosport has claimed Liverpool are among the leading contenders to sign AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni.
The report claims Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid are also keen on the 21-year-old who has earned an impressive 7.29 Sofascore rating in 10 Ligue 1 outings this term.
Capped on five occasions at senior level by France, Tchouameni is an exciting prospect capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role.
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Whilst the options are set to be bolstered by the return of Thiago and Fabinho in the coming days, Klopp will likely be haunted by the showing at Brighton for some time.
At full strength, the Reds boast an array of midfielders capable of matching any in the Premier League – however, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Keita are all prone to regular injury absences.
None of the aforementioned options come close to matching Fabinho’s prowess in the number six position, a role Tchouameni is en route to mastering.
Valued at £31.5million and under contract in France until 2024 (Transfermarkt), Liverpool would be wise to make their move for the man hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Paul Pogba.
