Liverpool will be looking for new midfielders this summer, and one underappreciated Paris Saint-Germain star could be a cheap alternative to the Reds’ top targets
With several first-team players expected to leave this summer, speculation about who Liverpool will sign as replacements is heating up. One Paris Saint-Germain midfielder could be a wise acquisition, providing continental pedigree at a low cost.
Given the departures of midfielders James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keta, and Arthur Melo in the upcoming transfer window, it is clear that the Reds may be short of options in the middle of the park. Furthermore, there are no options between the prime ages of 26 and 30 at Jürgen Klopp’s club.
Of course, a number of names have emerged as potential Liverpool transfer targets in recent months, including Chelsea’s Mason Mount, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister. While these players would be a good stylistic fit for the Reds, Klopp’s comments this week that the club will not be held to ransom in terms of transfer fees suggest that his recruitment team is looking to get value for money this summer.
The German manager was emphatic that Liverpool will not pay exorbitant fees for transfer targets in the coming months. In terms of how the club will conduct business in the upcoming transfer window, Klopp stated, “We cannot buy the player then.” We cannot do it if they are overpriced.
“But we will bring in players, and I am confident that we will bring in players who will help us.” That is something I am fairly certain of. You never know for sure until they sign, but it’s not unusual for some clubs to try.”
Renato Sanches, a Paris Saint-Germain midfielder who has been linked with a move to Anfield in the past and is valued at a reasonable $22 million (£17 million/€20 million) by Transfermarkt, could be a low-cost option for the Merseysiders. Klopp is a ‘big fan’ of the 25-year-old, who is described as a ‘long-term target’ for Liverpool, with a ‘fire sale’ of talent expected in the French capital this summer, according to Football Insider.
The former Bayern Munich star has recovered from a mixed spell in Bavaria earlier in his career, impressing since his move to Ligue 1 back in 2019. Despite his young age, he has won four league winner’s medals in his career. This total will rise to five if PSG, as expected, beats nearest rivals Lens and Marseille to the French title this season, with the midfielder appearing in 23 games across all competitions this season.
Sanches is a player with real pedigree in terms of what he has won so far in his career, and his numbers do show that his talents are sometimes overlooked. According to the statistics website FBref, he has been one of the best midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in several ways over the last year, with his expected assists average per 90 minutes ranking in the top 8% of his peers and his average amount of completed passes ranking in the top 3%.
Sanches is a player with real pedigree in terms of what he has won so far in his career, and his numbers do show that his talents are sometimes overlooked. According to the statistics website FBref, he has been one of the best midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in several ways over the last year, with his expected assists average per 90 minutes ranking in the top 8% of his peers and his average amount of completed passes ranking in the top 3%.
The Portuguese ace’s injury record is a major concern, with the player having never played more than 30 league games in a season. With the aforementioned departing midfielders Chamberlain, Keta, and Arthur all having had injury-plagued spells at Anfield, Klopp may be put off by Sanches’ fitness issues, given that the player has missed an estimated 20 games due to injury this season.
A move for Sanches is unlikely to raise eyebrows on Merseyside, but it is worth noting that the Portugal international has been influential in the games he has played in the past year. If Liverpool fails to sign its top targets this summer, there is a case to be made that the midfielder is a risk worth taking.
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