James Pearce: Liverpool could strengthen midfield this summer, Aurelien Tchouameni interest real
James Pearce, commenting in the Q&A session on The Athletic on Saturday (Subscription Required), predicted Liverpool to ‘reinforce’ their midfield this summer.
The journo also went on to reveal that the interest in Aurelien Tchouameni, the AS Monaco star, is real, after reaffirming that Fabio Carvalho will join from Fulham this summer. If you’re a Liverpool fan, this would be music to your ears.
“I do expect Liverpool to reinforce that midfield area of the squad. Obviously, Carvalho is coming in… There is certainly interest in [Aurelien] Tchouameni.”
Midfield, right now, isn’t really a pressing issue for the Reds. It may have been so last year, when there were a number of injuries over the course of the season, but Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara have come to the fore and made Jurgen Klopp’s job much easier this time around.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho Tavares, James Milner, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and according to Pearce, Carvalho, could be our midfield options once we enter into the new season. And that is a lot of depth.
Tchou-many midfielders already at LFC?
But two of the aforementioned English names are in their 30s, while the other two are perhaps too young and inexperienced to really become a regular starter for us in the biggest of games. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, can’t seem to get a start, effectively showing what Klopp thinks of him.
Tchouameni, in that regard, is a smart option to consider. Just 22, the full France international is one of the most important players in Philippe Clement’s AS Monaco side. The strides he has made since his move from Girondins de Bordeaux back in 2020 are there for all to see.
A rugged defensive midfielder, Tchouameni specialises in providing protection to the backline and can also play a role in kick-starting attacks from deep. Under the guidance of a manager like Klopp, his ceiling would know no bounds and he can learn a lot from the likes of Fabinho and El Mago, Thiago Alcantara.
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One could argue that a team that is already chasing the quadruple doesn’t really need any urgent strengthening. But one must remember how a club can better their chances of establishing a dynasty- by future-proofing the team and adding more quality even when it is at its strongest.
