Andoni Iraola Liverpool
Liverpool are getting closer to their dream signing from Real Madrid. The stars seem to be aligning.
Liverpool need a new midfielder and everyone can see that. We actually thought they'd make a move in the summer but instead they sold Curtis Jones and didn't replace him.
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That quickly looked like a mistake. Liverpool's midfield has not worked properly this season, relying on 19-year-old Trey Nyoni to step up and play a fundamental part of it - his success at that has been blind luck on the club's part. There's no right for him to be this good, this young.
We can't imagine Liverpool will want to rely on such a young player much longer, though. Nyoni needs some help as he's currently the only 'controlling' midfielder in the squad right now. Everyone else simply likes to attack.
Fortunately, the door to a genuinely perfect one might have opened up.
Real Madrid could be ready to sell
We're enormous fans of Eduardo Camavinga. The Real Madrid star was wanted by Liverpool before he made the move to the Santiago Bernabéu but he, like many others, decided to go to Spain instead.
His time there has been mixed. Camavinga has played brilliantly but essentially plays second fiddle to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who might be the best defensive midfielder on the planet, honestly.
But our Value Adder model has Camavinga incredibly close to his level. It just flies under the radar as he's in the compatriot's shadow all the time.
There has been plenty of talk about the player leaving Real Madrid as a result but he's held on. Moves were rejected back in the summer as the player refused to make himself available for a transfer. We think that's about to change.
The Independent is one of many reporting that Real Madrid hope to sign Martin Zubimendi from Arsenal. It's a move that would naturally harm Camavinga's opportunities even further and we find it difficult to see how he'd remain at the club if that deal goes through.
Liverpool, then, have a chance. They can be Camavinga's saviours here, offering him a first-team role at the heart of their midfield. They certainly wouldn't regret it - Camavinga is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe and a genuinely elite player who just needs a regular starting role to show it.