Whether Liverpool are able to complete a remarkable move for Barcelona midfielder Gavi could be determined before the week is out, per a report.
The Reds have limped out of the gate this season with just a pair of wins from their opening seven matches in all competitions. They slumped to a dismal 4-1 defeat to Napoli last week that has ramped up the pressure for their Ajax clash on Tuesday night.
One pundit has predicted Jurgen Klopp will axe a regular starter in defence for the visit of Ajax on Tuesday. In doing so, he’ll rekindle a partnership that worked so well last year. However, the area of Klopp’s eleven that comes under the microscope the most is the midfield.
Liverpool fans were in unison calling for a high quality midfield addition or two during the summer.
Klopp repeatedly suggested Liverpool would not make panic buys. He only relented with Arthur Melo’s loan once the injuries mounted up.
Arthur has the feel of a short-term fix despite Liverpool holding an option to buy set around the £32m mark. Moves for more high profile targets – such as Jude Bellingham – are expected to be explored in the coming windows.
However, competition for Dortmund superstar Bellingham will be fierce, and one player who has repeatedly been named as an alternative is Barcelona’s Gavi.
The classy 18-year-old is already a regular starter at the Camp Nou. Spanish outlet Sport previously reported Liverpool were mulling a move in the summer given his contract contains a handy £42m release clause.
However, the impression they were given was Gavi was due to pen fresh terms at Barca. Deadline day came and went without action, both on the transfer and contract fronts.
Gavi future coming to a head
Gavi’s deal expires next summer and per Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool are once again looking at a Gavi deal.
PSG and Bayern Munich are also in the frame, though all three require a miracle.
Via Sport Witness, it’s reported Barcelona intend to offer a contract running until 2026 before the calendar flips over to October.
In fact, it’s noted the deal could be put forward and signed as early as this week. Gavi joins the Spanish national squad for the international break on September 18 and his future could be determined by then.
Regardless of when the extension is tabled, Gavi is expected to sign the contract. In doing so, the £42m release clause will be removed, or at the very least significantly increased.
Liverpool – and the rest of the suitors for that matter – are therefore reliant on an unexpected breakdown in communication in the meantime.
Bellingham should be Liverpool’s No 1 priority
Liverpool’s owners have shown they are willing to spend big when the right player becomes available. Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez are all among the 20 most expensive Premier League transfers ever.
Gavi would represent a fantastic coup, though the real target they should be chasing is Jude Bellingham.
The England international is already closing in on 150 senior appearances despite still being a teenager.
What’s more, he possesses more of a box-to-box and pressing style than Gavi, something that Liverpool’s system requires.
Indeed, Klopp has publicly bemoaned the lack of pressure exerted on opposition ball carriers by his midfield. When the opposition are given time and space to pick out a pass, Liverpool’s high line can be exposed.
Bellingham would therefore be a better fit for Liverpool’s system. A midfield trio of he and Thiago flanking Fabinho would have a little bit of everything