Any new midfielder that makes a move to Liverpool Football Club will have the pressure of following in the footsteps of legends who have worn the shirt before them.
From the all-round talent of Steven Gerrard, to the technical ability of Xabi Alonso and tenacity of Jordan Henderson - the fanbase have truly been blessed with a plethora of top-level stars.
Dominik Szoboszlai was handed the iconic number eight shirt, once worn by fan-favourite Gerrard, but the Hungarian has thrived with the pressure - even scoring countless long-range goals like the Englishman.
szoboszlai-liverpool
However, there’s only so much one man can do to provide the goods from a deep-lying role, with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister unable to emulate their success from 2024/25.
As a result, the hierarchy are set to enter the transfer market this summer to try and identify the next star who can write a new history on Merseyside.
Liverpool in talks to land Premier League midfielder
Over recent months, Liverpool have been just one of a handful of Premier League clubs who have been touted with a move to sign Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson this summer.
The 23-year-old could cost as much as £100m this summer, which could prove to be out of the Reds’ price range given their heavy spending last summer.
elliot-anderson-nottingham-forest
A move to Manchester United or Manchester City now appears more likely for the England international, which has seen Arne Slot’s men move on to other targets.
The hierarchy have wasted no time and instead made a move to land West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have already held a meeting with the 21-year-old’s agents, with talks commencing over the prospect of a potential deal.
The report also states the Reds have registered the most advanced interest in the Portuguese international, who could be available for £55m this summer.
Why Fernandes would be Liverpool’s next Wijnaldum
In years gone by, Liverpool have conducted shrewd business in landing new midfielders - as seen by the £20m deal to land Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United back in 2016.
Jurgen Klopp and Gini Wijnaldum
Jurgen Klopp and Gini Wijnaldum
The Dutchman moved to Anfield after the Magpies were relegated to the Championship, with many questioning the calibre of player they were paying a hefty fee for.
However, such a move has proven to be one of the Reds’ best in modern history, as the now 35-year-old racked up a staggering 237 appearances during his five years on Merseyside.
Arguably, his most iconic moment came in the Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona in 2018/19, with his two goals helping Jurgen Klopp’s men overturn a three-goal first leg deficit.
Wijnaldum would depart on a free transfer to join French giants PSG in the summer of 2021, but the hierarchy have the chance to land their next version of the fan-favourite with a deal for Fernandes.
West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
The West Ham star could suffer the same fate as the Dutchman this season, with his current employers still stuck in the bottom three and staring down the prospect of relegation.
However, he’s a player who’s capable of starring at a much higher level in the future, with his underlying stats from this season demonstrating the quality he possesses.
Fernandes, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Roberto Martinez, has completed 64% of the dribbles he’s attempted in the Premier League this season.
Mateus Fernandes - PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Pass accuracy
Dribbles completed
Tackles made
Duels won
Ball recoveries
Interceptions made
The aforementioned tally ranks him in the top 15% of all players in the division, subsequently demonstrating his incredible ability with the ball at his feet.
He’s also showcased his remarkable ball-striking ability at the London Stadium this term, as seen with his 30-yard goal in the 3-1 triumph over Sunderland in January.
Such a quality is something which Wijnaldum constantly demonstrated at Anfield - just one of the reasons which made him a monster hit with the supporters.
As for Fernandes, his talents have also been reflected without the ball, subsequently making a staggering 3.1 tackles per 90 - which also ranks him in the top 12% of players in England’s top-flight.
West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates -1
Other tallies, such as 5.4 ball recoveries made and 5.9 duels won per 90, further demonstrate his dominant nature - which could make him the perfect box-to-box option for the Reds.
£55m for a player of the 21-year-old’s quality in today’s market would be excellent business, with the midfielder having a huge chance to develop into one of Europe’s leading performers.
Should he make the move and get anywhere near the levels produced by Wijnaldum, there’s no reason why he can’t be the next player to write himself into Liverpool history.
Arne-Slot-Liverpool-PSG Related
Rafa Benitez 2.0 is now the favourite to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool
Liverpool could be set for a managerial change in the next few weeks.