Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Yes, another transfer window came and went without a senior, central midfield signing at Liverpool.
Having splashed out on four new arrivals in that department back in the summer of 2023, the Reds have shifted their focus elsewhere since then, a decision that could well come back to bite for Andoni Iraola this season.
Thankfully, the suggestion is that the Merseysiders are already looking to January and the prospect of finally signing another midfielder, with Monaco's Lamine Camara just one name to have been floated.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Links to Bournemouth's Alex Scott have also persisted, amid his prior connection with Iraola, with the 23-year-old's recent England outing showcasing just why he is so highly regarded.
Why Alex Scott is one of the Premier League's best midfielders
Sometimes, it takes an international appearance for a player's quality to truly be realised, with that arguably the case with regard to young Scott this week.
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He's not exactly come from nowhere, but the manner of his performance on his first Three Lions start truly was eye-catching, the ex-Bristol City star having been masterful alongside Elliot Anderson.
This wasn't a vintage Croatia side, of course, but Anderson and Scott ran all over the veteran, yet experienced duo of Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric, pinning the hosts back time and again.
That 7-0 win saw Scott, despite carrying an injury, record a stellar 92% pass accuracy rate, having lost just one duel all game, while racking up 19 carries in total.
For those back at the Vitality Stadium, it was merely a continuation of what he's shown for so long on the south coast, the in-demand talent rightly hailed by Thomas Tuchel as "one of the outstanding midfielders" in the Premier League.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
He's notably averaging 2.2 key passes per game in the division so far this season, alongside winning 6.6 total duels on average and recording 7.2 ball recoveries. Alexis Mac Allister, for instance, averages just 0.6, 4.0 and 3.8 for those same three metrics, respectively.
Such a graceful, balletic footballer to watch, Scott does frustratingly appear set for a stint on the sidelines now with injury, although when January rolls around, don't be surprised if talk of a move to Anfield does ramp up again.
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What do Liverpool's midfielders earn?
Player
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Florian Wirtz
Alexis Mac Allister
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Trey Nyoni
A perfect, ideal signing for Iraola he'd be, yet perhaps Liverpool do already have a similar talent on his way in 2027.
Liverpool have already agreed to sign their own Alex Scott
As reported earlier this week, the Reds are said to have held talks regarding a potential move for Scott, the playmaker's future at Bournemouth in doubt as he enters the last 18 months of his existing deal.
Reuters/John Sibley
A key sticking point is that the Merseysiders aren't alone in their interest, however, with Chelsea right at the front of the queue after seeing a £64m bid rejected over the summer.
Getting a deal over the line won't be easy, therefore, yet as noted above, missing out on Scott, for all his talent, might not be the end of the world due to the presence of a certain Samuel Martinez.
Still only 17, the teenage Colombian is set to officially join Liverpool in the summer of 2027 when he turns 18, with a deal having already been agreed with Atletico Nacional.
Tipped to be the modern-day version of Kaka, Martinez is more of a natural number ten by trade, yet like Scott he can operate in more of a central midfield role too, tipped by journalist and analyst Bence Bocsak to be a "top no.10 or no.8 in the future".
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Indeed, as noted by Bocsak, the teenager is a "brilliant ball-carrier" and "works a ton off the ball too", mirroring Scott as a player who offers so much both in and out of possession.
That was evident at the U17 CONMEBOL Championship earlier this year, with Martinez averaging a remarkable 4.2 successful dribbles per game, highlighting his progressive, ball-carrying ability.
As for his work off the ball, the youngster averaged seven ball recoveries per game, just shy of Scott's 7.2 average so far in 2026/27.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
As he showed in a recent youth clash with Brazil, Martinez is so adept at gliding his way up the pitch from deep, boasting such delightful quick feet to weave his way out of trouble with ease.
He's not been included in the Guardian's list of the top 60 best young talents in the world for no reason, with it looking as if FSG have struck gold with this pre-agreed deal.
Of course, Iraola may want to build his team around more of a Premier League-proven talent like Scott, but if the Spaniard is looking to nurture his next midfield jewel, then Martinez could well be it next season.
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