8 Potential Midfield Replacements on Liverpool Shortlist for Henderson and Fabinho

Liverpool midfield has undergone a significant overhaul this summer, with the club losing three midfielders at the end of their contracts. However, the Reds may have to replace two more players in the middle of the park, with both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho expressing a desire to move to Saudi Arabia. In this article, we take a look at eight players on Liverpool’s midfield shortlist who could potentially fill the void left by the departing duo.

The first player on the list is Romeo Lavia, a 19-year-old Belgian midfielder who currently plays for Southampton. Lavia has been linked with Liverpool throughout the summer, thanks to his eye-catching form in a challenging season for the relegated Saints. He made 34 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring his only goal in the 2-1 win over Chelsea. Liverpool feel that Southampton’s £50m price tag is too high for Lavia, but he is still a cheaper option than other midfielders on their shortlist.

Cheick Doucoure is another player who has been linked with a move to Anfield. The Crystal Palace star was signed for £18m from Lens last summer and has impressed in his first season with the Eagles. Liverpool have yet to make an approach to Palace, but the south London club are bracing themselves for an enquiry. Palace officials are likely to find it difficult to refuse a £70m offer should the Reds make one.

Sofyan Amrabat is a Moroccan midfielder who played a crucial role in helping his team reach the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup. He currently plays for Fiorentina, and his contract expires next summer, making him a potentially cheap option for Liverpool. Reports suggest that the 26-year-old could be available for as little as £30m.

Ryan Gravenberch is a Dutch midfielder who left his boyhood club Ajax to join Bayern Munich last summer. He was limited to just three Bundesliga starts in his first season at the club but has been tipped as one of the best young midfielders in European football. Liverpool have been linked with a move for him throughout the summer, and reports back in April claimed that the Reds were in talks with the 21-year-old’s father over a £25m move to Anfield.

Aurelien Tchouameni is a French midfielder who joined Real Madrid in an £85m deal last summer. However, concerns over his game time at the Santiago Bernabeu have raised questions over his future. Bayern Munich have reportedly joined the race for the midfielder, who could be available for £70m. Even if Tchouameni is on Klopp’s shortlist, it looks like it could be an impossible move to complete, as he chose Madrid over Liverpool last year.

Kalvin Phillips is a midfielder who joined Manchester City for £45m from Leeds but struggled to get much of a chance last season due to injuries and the competition in a stacked Man City side who won the Treble. Liverpool, should they lose Henderson and Fabinho, would have the room in their team to give Phillips an opportunity in their starting XI. Reports in April suggested Liverpool would look to sign Phillips for a cut-price £35m deal this summer.

Joao Palhinha is a Fulham star who has been linked with a big-money move after helping the Cottagers secure a top-half finish last season. He has been most strongly linked with West Ham, but Liverpool are also reportedly interested. However, due to his price tag and age (28), it wouldn’t be a surprise if Klopp looks to go elsewhere.

The strongest linked player on Liverpool’s midfield shortlist is Khephren Thuram, a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Nice. The 22-year-old made 48 appearances across all competitions last season and has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer. Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for Thuram, providing some potential stiff competition to land his services.

In conclusion, Liverpool have a number of options to consider when it comes to replacing their departing midfielders. While some players on this list may be cheaper than others, Klopp will need to carefully consider who can best fill the void left by Henderson and Fabinho.