A lot of fans are calling for Liverpool to sign a defensive midfielder.
With The Reds leaking goals last season, a competent defensive midfielder can offer protection to the shaky back line. Not only that, they allow the full backs to bomb on and contribute to the attack.
Lucas currently occupies that role but he may be moved on this summer so I’ve looked at some players Liverpool might target this summer.
Grzegorz Krychowiak
This Polish international starred in his debut season in La Liga after joining Sevilla from Reims for €4.5 million. He has great aerial ability and an eye for a goal as he showcased in the Europa League final against Dnipro.
The 25 year old makes an average of 3.3 successful tackles per game. Perhaps something Krychowiak needs to work on would be his discipline as he was cautioned 19 times in 48 appearances last season. Recent reports stated that Southampton had a bid rejected for the midfielder so Sevilla may not be in a mood to sell.
Victor Wanyama
Wanyama is a defensive midfielder who plays for Southampton. He moved from Celtic in a £12.5 million transfer which made him the most expensive player sold by a Scottish club. The 24 year old impressed in the Premier League with his powerful performances and was given the honour of captaining his country, Kenya.
However, he does have the tendency to give away cheap fouls which sometimes prove costly for his club, but his willingness to tackle and win the ball back makes up for it. Given the money he was bought for, it may take a bid in excess of £20 million to interest Southampton.
Geoffrey Kondogbia
Kondogbia is a young, versatile midfielder who plays for AS Monaco. Many will remember his commanding performance and goal against Arsenal in the Champions League. The French international likes to play out from the back and dribble towards the opposition’s goal which sometimes leaves his defensive midfield spot vacant. The 22 year old is attracting interest around Europe and it looks likely that he will make a move to one of Europe’s bigger clubs sooner rather than later.
Javi Martinez
Martinez has been plagued by injuries recently which has somewhat halted his progress, but his talent cannot go unnoticed. He moved to German giants Bayern Munich from Athletic Bilbao in 2012 for €40 million. He only made two appearances last season and in his absence Munich were able to use Xabi Alonso and Phillip Lahm in the defensive midfield position. His willingness to break up play and move the ball on quickly make him a reliable player to have in front of the defence. He is also able to play in centre defence. His unfortunate injuries have seen him move down the pecking order at the Allianz, so he may be willing to move in search of regular football.
William Carvalho
This Portuguese international has been linked with English clubs in the past. He plays for Sporting Lisbon and also played in the 2014 World Cup. The 23 year old is tenacious in his tackling and precise in his passing. He is a consistent performer in the Sporting midfield and offers adequate protection. Like Martinez, he can also play as a centre back. His energy and commitment to stopping the opposition invade his area is admirable. Having spent his whole career, albeit short, in the Portuguese league, he may feel like it’s time to move on and test himself in the more competitive leagues.
