Liverpool's season is fizzling out, but at least it's not heading toward disaster.
A recent purple patch in the Premier League should see Arne Slot and his side over the finish line in one of the top five places, thus securing passage into the Champions League.
The work only begins here. Last year's Premier League winners have fallen heavily by the wayside, and FSG plan on making sweeping summer changes to restore their title-challenging status.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah
Hugo Ekitike's injury and Mohamed Salah's looming departure mean attacking additions are required, but the Reds are equally aware of the need for a new midfielder or two.
Why Liverpool are targeting a midfielder
Liverpool need more technicality and physicality in midfield. Adam Wharton would solve the first of those conundrums, for sure, but the Crystal Palace midfielder, who is very much on Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes' radar, is not an out-and-out six with a strong defensive skillset.
Wharton's ability to break lines and dictate pace would reenergise Liverpool's midfield and promote progressiveness that simply hasn't been there this year. This has been one of the central cruxes of the Anfield side's demise.
They may yet bounce back, and with Alexis Mac Allister linked with a move away, there's no question that Wharton would be a worthy replacement - but Liverpool could potentially aim even higher.
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have retained an interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni that dates back to his days with Monaco in France.
Tchouameni-Deschamps-France
Valued at £70m, Tchouameni is no longer considered untouchable by Los Blancos, but a new contract at the club is certainly not out of the question, even as Liverpool and Manchester United weigh up concrete moves this summer.
Why Tchouameni could be Liverpool's dream signing
Though the 26-year-old Tchouameni hasn't always been the heart and soul of Real Madrid's midfield, this has largely been down to rotten luck on the injury front.
This year, though, the Les Bleus star has started 27 matches in La Liga, not only completing 91% of his passes and pushing forward purposefully but winning 69% of his duels and winning more than two tackles every game.
Andres Cheba, his former teammate, has even gone as far as to say that Tchouameni is "the best defensive midfielder in the world",
So while Wharton would be a shrewd, impactful signing for the Reds, this could be a deal to revolutionise Slot's engine room, bringing back the spirit of Fabinho while staying in line with Slot's tactical vision; in short: controlled passing play.
The Eagles star has a more expansive range of passing. However, Tchouameni does not purport to be a maestro, instead thriving in a more traditional No. 6 role, spiced with Madrid-esque forward ball playing.
Given that Crystal Palace value him as high as £100m, it may even be more cost-efficient for Liverpool to pursue a deal for Tchouameni. Moreover, the Reds may benefit from a more traditional anchor, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to lean even further forward and Ryan Gravenberch to roam.
This is one of the most talented midfielders in the world, someone whose role for Real Madrid over the past year has evidenced a return to sustained fitness levels that could pay dividends in replacing Mac Allister and lifting Liverpool back into the ascendancy.
aurelien-tchouameni-real-madrid
Wharton is a fantastic Premier League midfielder, but he's not the finished article, and there's a case to be made that Tchouameni is the cream of Europe's crop in that regard.
Though Palace's midfield general is a "cheat code" on the ball, as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson, Tchouameni is a cut above. Maybe the Frenchman needs a new home, where he can thrive as the main man.
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