Elliot Anderson is one player Liverpool have been linked with in recent weeks.
The Reds have had a disastrous start to the season that sees them in the bottom half, with their title defence all but over already.
They also appear to have one eye already on the upcoming transfer windows, suggesting they are planning next season.
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Arne Slot puts his hand over his face during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League loss against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
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Nottingham Forest’s Anderson is one player who has been linked with a move, although Man City are said to be big admirers of the Englishman as well.
However, Liverpool simply need him more, with the 23-year-old able to quietly fix one of Liverpool’s biggest issues so far this season.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest looks on during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Elliot Anderson is the ball-winner Liverpool need
The Reds have been poor all over the park this season, but one of their biggest weaknesses has come in the middle of the park.
They have been cut open on far too many occasions and overrun by almost every team they have played, with Nottingham Forest the best example of this.
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One of the reasons they managed to do it so easily was because of Anderson in the middle, with the Englishman a serial ball-winner who wins almost all of his duels.
Last season alone, only Bruno Guimaraes won more than his 234 duels as per StatMuse, with the 23-year-old picking up where he left off and dominating midfields this season too.
He has won 27 in his last three games, with Alexis Mac Allister winning just 10 of his, showing how badly his presence is needed.
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He also has the work rate needed to be a Liverpool player, showing how he would be the perfect addition, as well as why they need to get him ahead of Man City.
Elliot Anderson could cost Liverpool in excess of £100m
The way the market is going, signing a player of Anderson’s quality will never be cheap, but he might cost more than most.
Not only is he English so counts as a homegrown player, but he has set the league alight since his move from Newcastle, and he only appears to be getting better.
He is also well-liked by England manager Thomas Tuchel and has a good chance of not only going to the World Cup, but starting too.
If this is the case and he has a good tournament, his price tag will only get even higher, meaning it could be well over the £100m fee that was being reported.
It would certainly be a risk, and given how badly Liverpool’s big-money signings have started so far, they might be hesitant, but Anderson might just be the perfect player they need to get back on track.
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