Liverpool eye move to sign Belgian star as Klopp plots January swoop

For those with Liverpool tickets, it is good news as Liverpool has already commenced their pursuit of shortlisting talent to sign in the upcoming January transfer window. 

Jurgen Klopp and his team have had a decent start to this year’s Premier League, with Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez returning to form. 

But Klopp also understands that the team needs more reinforcements to cover up the losses during the summer window. While the side has good starting numbers, it will be challenging for the manager when there is an injury. 

Especially with Liverpool’s sole intention this year will be to win the Europa League alongside their domestic success, Klopp doesn’t want to take additional risks. But he’s also taken the bold step of transforming their playing style to match the current side. 

Playing Style Transformation

The transformation has had a good start as Liverpool is now switching their usual playing style to suit the players in the starting Xi. But there is still a gap. 

During the summer transfer window came Wataru Endo, who was a short-term fix, to fill in the shoes of Fabinho. Klopp expected Endo to step up, but the limitation within the player makes him not a starting option. 

Fans with Liverpool tickets were excited when the club signed Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister this summer. Mac Allister, who’s proven himself at Brighton, came in as a wonderful add-on for the side. 

But Klopp had initially wanted to play Alexis as a replacement for Fabinho, out of his usual midfield position as a holding option. Still, after several experiments, it showed that he did not fit it. 

The search for an ideal holding midfielder to anchor the team persists for Klopp and the recruitment team. And they may have come across an excellent candidate in the form of a talented Belgian youngster.

The Belgian Signing 

Over the last few weeks, reports are coming from Liverpool about their interest in Arthur Vermeeren, who has been making waves in Belgian football. At just 18 years old, he’s already accomplished a lot, winning the league title in his home country and making his senior national team debut. 

And it isn’t just Liverpool who’s keeping ye on the youngster – Manchester United and Barcelona are also interested. 

For Klopp to build back a winning side at Anfield, he needs the services of a holding midfielder – a player who can direct and lead the play from the back to support the wingers. 

But the real question that the fans with Liverpool tickets will ask is “Who is Fabinho’s right replacement?

While Vermeeren shows exceptional talent, the question will be if he will fit into a Premier League starting lineup with ease. With no adequate match time, it is tough for a new player to make it count in a competitive league like the Premier League. 

Even for established players, it takes time to settle in. Darwin Nunez, for example, is finally adapting to Liverpool and the Premier League after one and a half seasons. Vermeeren will be the future for Liverpool if he signs, but the team needs an immediate fix. 

Leadership Team Leading Liverpool 

In the summer, Klopp faced uncertainty when Liverpool lost their two influential dressing-room figures, Jordan Henderson and James Milner. Both of these players were significant figures in the Liverpool dressing room and had carried the team throughout all of Klopp’s managerial stint. 

For the fans, it was disappointing news as their captaincy figure Henderson was leaving the Reds for Saudi Arabia’s League. 

Team chemistry is one of the crucial aspects of a team’s dynamics. Teams with the right attitude and the relationship always go on to thrive. We’ve seen it with Liverpool over the last few seasons, as Klopp had the full support of the dressing room for any decision he took. 

Manchester City, Arsenal, and most recently, Newcastle look like the other teams who have this working team chemistry, and this has helped them achieve success. 

Hence, Klopp’s worries were legitimate. He was wondering if this relationship would break away. 

The departure of such leadership voices can often disrupt a team’s dynamics. However, Liverpool has handled the transition rather well.

Virgil van Dijk has stepped into the captain’s role effectively, and he’s well-supported by deputy Trent Alexander-Arnold. With many other leaders in the squad, like Mo Salah, Andy Robertson, and Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary), it felt like nothing had changed, and Liverpool continued to be the powerhouse. 

This collective leadership has enabled the dressing room to manage itself practically, maintaining the team’s ethos even after the departure of long-serving captains. The comfort of the dressing room has helped Klopp focus on the bigger picture and steer the club with ease. 

Klopp – Satisfied with the New Leaders

For the fans who turn up at Anfield with Liverpool tickets, they’ve always felt like Van Dijk was a true leader on the field. Leadership was nothing new for the Dutch defender, and now, in his official position as club captain, he’s doing an exceptional job. 

Andy Robertson is playing a crucial part as well, while Alisson, despite not being vociferous, is a natural leader whose words hold weight.

Liverpool’s Luis Diaz’s Father is still missing

Liverpool confirmed the situation about Luis Diaz’s family, where his parents were kidnapped in Colombia. Reports confirm that his mother is rescued, but his father remains missing. 

As a result of these circumstances, Luis Díaz was left out of the Liverpool squad for their match last week against Nottingham Forest. Liverpool’s manager, Jürgen Klopp, addressed the situation, stating, 

“We had to make a late change because of the private situation involving Luis Díaz. It was a worrying situation for all of us, and it was a pretty tough night. I have never had that before; it’s a new experience I never needed.”

A club statement confirmed their awareness of the situation and hoped for a speedy resolution. 

The statement went on to emphasize that the player’s welfare and family come as a priority over everything else.