Liverpool are hunting their next Fabinho in a £50m ‘warrior’
Results obtained Liverpoollast weekend, with the Reds having previously claimed a dramatic late win at Brentford Arsenal blew a two goal lead at home against Aston Villa.
It feels significant. Liverpool are now six points clear at the top Premier League having played a game less than the opponent. The whole world felt it Arne Slott‘this side stumbled towards a third consecutive Premier League draw until Darwin Nunez fired two last-gasp shots past the previously mighty Mark Flekken.
Liverpool will need to produce more consistent results in the coming months – had Nunez failed to convert, Liverpool would have drawn five of their eight recent Premier League games – but there is no doubt that their grip on the top of the table is tight and the country ahead is what many would call ‘conquerable’.
Liverpool – upcoming fixtures (all matches) |
||
---|---|---|
Date |
Competition |
Opponent |
21/01/25 |
Champions League |
Lille (H) |
25.01.25 |
Premier League |
Ipswich (H) |
29/01/25 |
Champions League |
PSV (A) |
02.01.25 |
Premier League |
Bournemouth (A) |
02.06.25 |
Carabao Cup |
Tottenham (H) |
The Merseysiders are in the game in every possible way this term and have a talented and balanced squad. However, there has been outrage in fan circles over the fresh quality, particularly at the rear.
Why Liverpool may not step up in January
FSG aren’t exactly known for being rash in the transfer market and it’s hard to imagine sporting director Richard Hughes prioritizing hopeful signings when a darker nimbus looms over Merseyside.
All quiet on the contract front. David Ornstein of the Athletic revealed over a month ago that Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been offered new contracts, but we still don’t have a solution as both players were free to negotiate with overseas suitors a few weeks ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold he is also nearing the end of his illustrious career at Liverpool, and the childhood Red is being targeted by no less than Real Madrid.
That’s not to say that these complex conundrums distract from the prudent planning that was so much the statement of the FSG era. Liverpool have plenty of issues to sort out, but Hughes seems ready to complete Liverpool’s midfield.
Liverpool in search of a new midfielder
According to Football InsiderLiverpool are plotting ahead of the summer transfer window and have set their sights on Wolverhampton Wanderers João Gomes.
Gomes, who is valued at £50mhe has been one of the central pillars of the Old Gold system this year but still finds himself embroiled in a relegation battle, something Liverpool will take advantage of if the ax swings in May.
17. Wolves will certainly be a hard bargain, but Liverpool could use a different kind of anchor as Ryan Gravenberch‘s shot, and Gomes could be the perfect man for the job.
Why Liverpool want Joao Gomes
Gravenberch is a brilliant player, but the Dutchman has started all of Liverpool’s Premier League and European games this season and could provide him with competition. Wataru Endo is a solid second-half option, but lacks ball-playing.
Premier League 24/25 – Joao Gomes vs Ryan Gravenberch |
||
---|---|---|
Match statistics* |
||
Matches (starts) |
20 (20) |
21 (21) |
Objectives |
2 |
0 |
Assists |
1 |
2 |
touch* |
57.4 |
70.1 |
Completion of passage |
85% |
89% |
Key Passes* |
0.6 |
0.9 |
Dribbling (success)* |
0.7 (62%) |
1.0 (59%) |
Ball recovery* |
5.4 |
5.1 |
Tackles + interceptions* |
4.0 |
3.7 |
Ground duels (won)* |
4.7 (44%) |
4.2 (56%) |
Statistics via Sofascore (* = per match) |
Liverpool have not had a problem with green injuries this season, but they have not suffered as much as some of the disastrous crises under Jurgen Klopp, which has allowed them to stay ahead of Arsenal.
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However, losing a player like Gravenberch would certainly be detrimental to Sloto’s title charge, and while Wolves are unlikely to be out of business this month, FSG must realize that the injury front will not always be so kind and measures need to be put in place ahead of the 2025/26 season. .
Gomes could be the “warrior” Liverpool need, as they describe him talent hunter Jacek Kuligbringing perfect robustness to the center of the park.
Warrior-type qualities are important for a number six, or indeed the all-round strength of a midfielder, and this is something the former Reds star Fabinho was known for, praised as such Liverpool writer Ben Webb.
Given Gomes’ Brazilian heritage, he could shape into Anfield’s next version of Klopp’s mainstay, which came from Monaco for £44m in 2018 and went to complete 219 performances for the Reds, lifting almost every major trophy available.
While Fabinho is a deeper, less mobile version of his aging compatriot, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, Gomes could still be a good successor, his energy and sporting style better suited to Sloto’s system.
Moreover, Gomes would arrive on Merseyside at a similar point in his career, Fabinho was 24 when he arrived, the same age Gomes will be if he moves this summer.
Undoubtedly, Liverpool will need to strengthen in midfield to take the burden off Gravenberch’s shoulders. A move with Gomes could be the way to go, continuing the Brazilian connection that has worked so well over the past few years and ensuring Sloto’s wonderful tactics are backed by a framework that will promote his vision and allow it to sustain.