Liverpool plotting to sign their best CM since Thiago in £314k-p/w talent

Liverpool have been fairly clearly drained towards Tottenham Hotspur within the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and you might possibly say the identical for his or her Premier League draw towards Manchester United final weekend.

Arne Slot‘s facet have been unbelievable this yr, mounting a title problem that has seen them outplay their rivals to take a six-point lead (with a recreation in hand) on the marketing campaign’s midpoint.

Typically in soccer, issues do not go to plan. Liverpool’s 24-match unbeaten run was snapped on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in controversial circumstances, however the plain reality is that the Reds have been toothless in assault and wobbly on the again.

Maybe a great way to counter these issues and restore the feel-good issue can be to work someplace within the center and strengthen Liverpool’s midfield this month.

A chance for a brand new quantity six might need emerged. Ryan Gravenberch has been sensational this yr although has began all 15 matches throughout the Premier League and Europe, and wishes help.

Liverpool eyeing one other midfielder

As per German reporter Christian Falk, Liverpool are interested by signing Joshua Kimmich this yr, with the Bayern Munich star out of contract on the finish of the season.

The 29-year-old midfielder is engaged in discussions together with his employers to extend his £314k-per-week deal, however Liverpool are actually ready to canvass their proposal and will tempt him to attempt his hand exterior his homeland for the primary time.

If FSG are critical about their curiosity, it could be sensible for them to behave prudently and produce him on this winter, for Manchester Metropolis are additionally sniffing round and eager on landing him this month for a bargain £10m fee.

What Joshua Kimmich would deliver to Liverpool

Usually, Liverpool wish to signal gamers earlier than their prime, figuring out thrilling abilities and shaping them into elite-level superstars. Usually. FSG do make exceptions, Thiago Alcantara being probably the most salient.

In 2020, Thiago joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich (what d’ya know) in an eye-catching £25m deal. The Premier League champions noticed a possibility and grabbed it, the Spaniard being one of many eminent midfielders of his technology.

It wasn’t a skillset that Liverpool have been used to underneath Jurgen Klopp‘s tutelage, however Thiago was arguably probably the most technically gifted midfielder in Europe and added one thing totally different to the crew.

Certainly, the Reds have been handled to some unimaginable soccer with Thiago on the centre, however sadly, accidents restricted him to partial success, much less so than his thrilling years with Bayern and Barcelona, profitable Champions League titles with every and lots of lifting many league trophies too.

Again to Kimmich. FSG could be cautious about repeating the transfer with a participant of the same age from the identical stadium, however the German’s health document is much better than his one-time teammate’s. Furthermore, he might replicate the ball-playing high quality in a Slot system that’s higher tailor-made to it.

The now-retired Thiago only started 51 Premier League matches throughout his four-year keep at Liverpool, averaging out at round 13 per time period. The truth that he left such an indelible impression on the Anfield fanbase regardless of his health struggles means that Kimmich might have an unimaginable impact.

TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino has truly hailed Thiago as “possibly probably the most gifted participant I’ve seen within the Premier League.” Liverpool are grateful for the time they spent with the distinguished Spaniard, but it surely might have been a lot extra.

Actually, there are tactical similarities between the gamers. Evaluating Kimmich’s statistics from this time period towards Thiago’s in 2021/22, when he acquired the aforementioned reward from Cascarino and was at his ostensible Liverpool peak, you’ll be able to see that his high quality is certainly recognisable by means of parts of Kimmich’s talent set.

It is meals for thought. Slot would relish the chance to reinforce his crew with a distinct number of “world-class” deep-sitting midfielder – as hailed by Julian Nagelsmann – one who differs from Gravenberch, to make sure.

Thiago Alcantara (21/22) vs Joshua Kimmich (24/25)
Stats (per 90)	Thiago	Kimmich
Targets	0.06	0.07
Assists	0.23	0.27
Shot-creating actions	3.93	4.73
Cross completion	88.9%	90.3%
Passes tried	88.47	119.93
Progressive passes	12.56	11.87
Progressive carries	1.41	1.87
Ball recoveries	7.39	6.53
Tackles + interceptions	4.34	2.33
Stats by way of FBref

Trying on the two gamers, you’ll be able to see that each deliver the gold customary in terms of pulling strings with their affect, threading an obscene variety of progressive passes every match whereas showcasing athleticism by means of their ball recoveries.

A go is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the subsequent contact is a minimum of 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s objective or any accomplished go into the penalty space.

Moreover, Kimmich will not be as energetic a defensive drive within the Bayern first crew however he is nonetheless greater than dependable in that regard, having gained 66% of his floor duels within the Bundesliga this season, as per Sofascore.

On condition that Thiago is thought to be, maybe, probably the most technically gifted participant to have graced the Premier League, and that Kimmich is ready to go punch-for-punch with him throughout related metrics, there is a strong case to be made that Liverpool would get their mitts on their greatest midfielder because the Spain star, ought to Kimmich be introduced in.

Slot’s long-term venture might prosper with him within the combine, jockeying with Gravenberch for that quantity six spot, but it surely is also that FSG launch a £10m transfer this month to offer Liverpool that added one thing within the centre. It would make all of the distinction.