Liverpool are still deciding which midfielder to recruit next, and the UEFA U21 European Championship is a great place to do so.
Fans who want to witness the next generation of Liverpool midfielders in action should pay attention to Romania and Georgia next week.
Not just because Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will be trying to help England win the UEFA U21 European Championships under former Everton player Lee Carsley‘s supervision.
The two players were able to push their cases at various periods last season and, with Jones still just 22 and Elliott 20, are among the possibilities open to Jurgen Klopp in a revamped engine room this season.
Liverpool completed the first phase of their summer reshuffling by signing Alexis MacAllister from Brighton last week, and the 24-year-old Argentina international will be followed by one or two additional midfielders.
The two players were able to push their cases at various periods last season and, with Jones still just 22 and Elliott 20, are among the possibilities open to Jurgen Klopp in a revamped engine room this season.
The names at the top of the Reds’ desired list obviously indicate to a specific type of player, one who has already proved to a certain level and has opportunity to develop both their own and their team’s potential, and who is more of an all-rounder than a specialist in any one engine room position.
And the top four contenders will all compete in the upcoming Euros. Of course, Liverpool will have been watching their development and improvement for months and years, assessing their feasibility not only in terms of sheer skill but also the realistic prospect of luring them away from their present clubs. The Reds have done their research.
However, while the next competition in Romania and Georgia is not an audition, it will give more data and allow supporters to run their own personal rule over possible signings.
Two people are on the same team. Khephren Thuram of Nice and Manu Kone of Borussia Moenchengladbach, both 22, have made the France team following strong domestic seasons, with the former having already broken into his country’s senior side.
France will begin their group stage campaign against Italy on Thursday, followed by games against Norway and Switzerland. The pair are expected to advance far in the tournament, with France among the favorites.
Ryan Gravenberch, 21, of Bayern Munich, is in the Holland squad, with the Dutch facing Belgium, Portugal, and co-hosts Georgia in their group. And Celta Vigo’s highly touted midfielder Gabri Veiga, 21, will play for Spain, who will face co-hosts Romania, Croatia, and Ukraine.
The U21 Euros have traditionally provided a platform for young players, most notably two years ago when Ibrahima Konate captained France in a quarter-final loss to Holland only days after his move to Liverpool was announced.
Moreover, potential midfield recruits may be evaluated during the competition. Liverpool are also on the lookout for a long-term alternative on the left side of central defense, with Chelsea‘s Levi Colwill – a Reds fan – in the England team. Micky van de Ven, the Wolfsburg center-back who has piqued the curiosity of a number of suitors, will be in action for Holland.
But it’s the engine room that will hold the greatest interest. With France, Holland, and Spain among the favorites, there’s a potential that the upcoming season may not only see a World Cup winner, but also a European champion.
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