Jurgen Klopp is reportedly planning to reconstruct his Liverpool midfield after he faced a number of injuries in that department. The Reds have paid a heavy price for all of their midfielders picking knocks at the start of this season, as they currently sit 8th in the Premier League table, 14 points adrift of the top of the table. Their dismal start has Klopp on his knees as he already conceded the club’s title challenge this year.
However, he vowed to ‘reinvent’ his team after the Napoli drubbing in the Champions League and it seems he has got a long term plan for it. The German wants his midfield refurbished as the Reds are studying the options to sign Benfica’s Florentino Luis according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo. The 23-year-old bears a release clause of £104 million, as it would be interesting to see how Liverpool pursue this deal.
Liverpool could need massive reinforcements in midfield next summer
Liverpool haven’t had a brilliant midfield in some time as one can claim, with Fabinho being the only high-profile player in that position before the arrival of Thiago Alcantara in 2020. However, its only 9 league games into this season and Liverpool have already seen the Spaniard alongside Jordan Henderson sustain an injury and make a comeback. Furthermore, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and on loan midfielder Arthur Melo are still out and are expected to only return to the fold next year.
Klopp is evidently doing it with a injury-prone midfielder, which is ageing as well with Thiago, Henderson and Milner past 30 and Chamberlain fast approaching the figure. Further on, Milner, Keita, Chamberlain and Arthur Melo are all out of contracts in 2023, which could certainly help Liverpool bring in some fresh midfielders with Florentino being a part of their revamping. The youngster after spending the last season on loan at Getafe returned to Benfica this summer, and has so far made 18 appearances in all competitions.
A central midfielder, Florentino looks after the defensive duties as Liverpool feel he could be the face of their midfield for years to come. While the Benfica player hasn’t done something that prolific which would catch one’s eye, the Reds feel he still has the potential to succeed in the physically demanding Premier League. On the other hand, the question that remains is whether Liverpool will trigger his staggering release clause of £104 million.
Florentino has recently penned a new long term deal at Benfica, which saw the Portuguese side insert the £104 million release clause. Liverpool were not known for making such big money moves, before they signed Benfica’s Darwin Nunez for a club record fee of £85 million this summer. They could now look on to build on that relationship and try and get some discount on Florentino’s release clause, as they plan to bring in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham as well.
The England international is their top priority target for the summer of 2023, who is going to cost in the excess of £100 million as confirmed by many reports. Liverpool are reportedly determined to the win the ‘Bellingham-battle’ which could be fought like the one which was for Erling Haaland this summer. All of Europe’s top clubs in Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and PSG have registered their firm interest alongside Liverpool in Bellingham.
Liverpool could be forced to choose between Florentino and Bellingham, if Benfica budge on their price tag of £104 million, since Jurgen Klopp recently claimed in his press conference that his club cannot go a spending spree as those of Manchester City and Newcastle United.