Liverpool’s long-awaited midfield makeover has naturally been their top priority going into this summer’s transfer window.
Because of the Reds’ well-documented struggles in the middle of the pitch last season, it was obvious that they needed to improve their midfield even before it was known that James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Juventus loanee Arthur Melo would all be leaving the team.
Within 11 days of their 2022–23 season coming to an end, club management took immediate action by signing Alexis Mac Allister. The Reds’ recruitment drive, though, is just getting underway with the World Cup champion.
More midfield signings are anticipated, with Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone of the France Under-21 national teams currently dominating the rumours in the Liverpool gossip columns. However, according to reports in Germany, the Reds may sign another Frenchman this summer for a completely different position.
Beyond the midfield, Liverpool’s recent season also included center-back as a position of concern. At some point during the season, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez all experienced injuries, with the Dutchman and the Cameroonian, whose contract expires next summer and who has been linked with a move away, both failing to reach their prior levels.
Jurgen Klopp has already hinted that he will strengthen at center-back this summer as a result of the fact that both players are on the verge of turning 30 and Gomez is also having form and confidence issues.
The German acknowledged to reporters last month, “We look in all departments aside from custodian at the moment. “Yes, I wouldn’t object if there was a good center-back available. Just that. Without a doubt, we examine every part of the pitch.
Jurrien Timber of Ajax, Micky van de Ven of VfL Wolfsburg, and Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton have all been linked with moves to the Reds, while Chelsea’s Levi Colwill has supporters at Anfield. All four of Liverpool’s defenders are under the age of 22, but according to German reports, Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich would be a more experienced choice.
The 27-year-old wants to leave Munich this summer and has one year left on his contract with Bayern. According to Sky Sports Germany, Bayern would be open to allowing him to do so. Along with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Inter Milan, they assert that the Reds are also interested in the France international and that he could be allowed to leave for £25 million to £35 million.
Christian Falk of BILD has since claimed that Liverpool is now a “hot candidate” to sign Pavard and that the team is in negotiations with the defender’s agents. Sources within the club have denied these claims, adamant that Liverpool are not looking to add a new right-back this summer. However, the multi-talented France international is not just a right-back.
Of course, it would be understandable if observers expressed scepticism in light of such reports given that the 27-year-old hardly fits the typical Reds signing profile under Klopp. Only five of the 33 players brought in since the beginning of the German’s first full season at Anfield have been older than 27. Alexis MacAllister is the 33rd player brought in since that time.
When they joined the group, Ragnar Klavan, Alex Manninger, Adrian, and Andy Lonergan were all older than 30. AKA a backup centre back who cost £4.2 million and three backup goalkeepers, two of whom have never played competitively for the team.
The only other signings who were over 25 when they were signed were Virgil van Dijk, Xherdan Shaqiri, Thiago Alcantara, and Arthur Melo, and even then, three of them were 26 years old and the Spaniard was the outlier at 29. He is a notable exception to Liverpool’s transfer policy, though, as they paid an initial £20 million for a player of his calibre.
The only 25-year-olds hired so far are Ben Davies, Alisson, Mohamed Salah, and Gini Wijnaldum. In other words, when they arrived at Anfield, the rest, including Mac Allister, had not yet reached their prime.
Pavard, on the other hand, is in top form. Could he, however, follow Thiago’s example and make an unusual exception to Liverpool’s transfer policy by moving from Bavaria to Anfield?
It would make sense to sign the World Cup champion from last year. After all, he is a versatile player who is equally at home playing at right back as he is at centre back. Despite not being the fastest, he is excellent at handling the ball and passing out from the back, even if he cannot match Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist totals.
However, because of the England international’s versatility and the fact that it is still unknown how the Reds will line up in formation next season, a move for Pavard may make sense. Of course, they would play an inverted full-back to end the 2022–23 season, with Alexander–Arnold pushing centrally into midfield when Liverpool had the ball and the right–sided center–back covering his right–back position.
Given his comfort at both center-back and right-back, Pavard might be the ideal choice if such a formation is going to stick around. Twenty of his 43 appearances for Bayern last season were on the right flank, leaving 23 at the centre of defence.
He is the perfect candidate for the Reds’ underutilised defensive hybrid role due to his experience. Even though Konate has the speed to perform both roles, he has had to gradually adjust to his new position. With his ability to line up on the left if necessary, Pavard could join Van Dijk and his fellow countryman in that defensive trio.
His presence would provide more than just a good fit for the updated 3-2-2-3 system, though. Pavard would be a trusted choice for both the centre back and right back positions if Liverpool went back to their standard 4-3-3 formation.
Following Milner’s summer departure, the latter position would be especially advantageous, with Conor Bradley and Calvin Ramsay, two teenagers, being the only logical replacements for Alexander-Arnold on the right. Pavard’s presence would allow Klopp to switch the Reds’ number 66 with a senior option, as Kostas Tsimikas offers for Andy Robertson on the left, while also providing the option of a full-switch into midfield if desired. While Gomez can play there, Pavard’s presence would allow Klopp to play Gomez there instead.
Additionally, by deviating from the conventional younger player profile, signing a 27-year-old wouldn’t actually obstruct Bradley’s or Ramsay’s path because the young players are prepared to take over full-time once the Frenchman approaches 30.
According to club sources, Liverpool’s interest in Pavard has remained limited to reports and rumours in Germany because they continue to place a high priority on the midfield. Only time will tell, however, if the Reds will attempt to bring a second World Cup champion to Anfield given that the defender is still expected to leave Bayern Munich this summer.
