Liverpool last had a major midfield refit back in 2023.
Jurgen Klopp and then-sporting director Jorg Schmadtke concluded deals for Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Out went Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It’s fair to say those transfers have paid off in a big way - but the time is approaching when Liverpool must restock their midfield all over again.
The load has been quite heavy on Liverpool’s rotating cast of midfielders this season - with all five options suffering varying degrees of injuries.
And with question marks against Mac Allister’s form - and the uncertain contract situations of Endo and Curtis Jones - it has been suggested that midfield is one area the Premier League champions will seek to improve next summer.
Liverpool linked again with Joao Gomes
A long-standing target has been Joao Gomes of Wolves. The 24-year-old moved to Molineux back in January 2023 from Flamengo - with whom he won the 2022 Copa Libertadores.
The midfielder has become a solid campaigner for Wolves in the Premier League ever since - emerging on the radar of several top clubs.
According to a report in Caught Offside Napoli and Atletico Madrid have both got plans to sign the Brazil international next summer while Manchester United have also identified Gomes as a potential Casemiro replacement.
More fancifully the report names Crystal Palace as potential suitors for Joao Gomes - who is contracted to the Premier League side until 2030.