Alex Scott pictured in training for Bournemouth
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Injury to Dominik Szoboszlai has thrown the spotlight once again on Liverpool’s midfield options, with the Reds’ decision not to buy a new midfielder this summer questioned by supporters.
Many thought Liverpool needed another option long before Szoboszlai’s latest problem, but the recruitment team disagreed, choosing to put greater faith in Trey Nyoni instead.
Nyoni has done well when given his chances this season, but that has not stopped Liverpool being linked with Alex Scott, who looks likely to leave Bournemouth in January. But, according to The Athletic, the Reds are currently not planning to spend big on the England star, believing that James McConnell can step up and see them through the season.
Dominik Szoboszlai is injured 🚨 How do Liverpool replace him?!
Liverpool have ‘high hopes’ for James McConnell
On the basis of what we have seen so far this season, Liverpool may have been right to push Nyoni further up the pecking order rather than sign another player to stand in his way. The 19-year-old looks ready to play more and will surely only get better from here.
Nevertheless, it would feel like a risk to go another two transfer windows without bringing a new player in. Scott is a good candidate given his profile, his availability and the fact that he knows Andoni Iraola extremely well and has already adapted to the demands of the Liverpool boss once before.
Scott is said to be ‘highly regarded’ by senior figures at Anfield, and the Reds are supposedly one of the leading contenders to sign the 23-year-old along with Arsenal and Chelsea. However, if they do eventually move to sign him, it reportedly will not be in January.
Bolstering their midfield is not claimed to be a priority for those who make the decisions at Liverpool, as they have ‘high hopes’ for not only Nyoni, but McConnell as well.
McConnell looks set to play while Szoboszlai is out injured, and if the 22-year-old can hit the ground running, there genuinely will not be a need for a player like Scott.
However, Liverpool are reportedly keeping half an eye on the market for next summer, when it remains possible that ‘the landscape might have changed,’ which presumably means that Alexis Mac Allister may leave, forcing Liverpool into the market.
For now, though, they appear happy to move forward with what they have, and though that may cause frustration for supporters, if McConnell takes his chances – as he has shown he is capable of in the past – holding off on Scott will look like a smart decision.