Gavi set to remain at FC Barcelona amidst interest from Liverpool
According to 90min (h/t Liverpool Echo), FC Barcelona’s 18-year-old midfield sensation Pablo Gavi will extend his contract at the Catalan giants amidst interest from multiple clubs including Liverpool.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool alongside Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain had held talks with Gavi’s representatives. The Reds could have done with the player on their books, given how unreliable our midfield can get at times, along with being injury-prone.
Gavi would have reduced the average age of the squad as well, with James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara all over 31 years of age. The younger options in midfield are either very injury prone or still making their way to the top.
Barcelona wanted to extend the Spaniard’s contract on his 18th birthday, but amidst the financial struggles of the Catalan giants, it was not feasible to do the same. Hence, the contract talks have taken such a long time.
However, the Blaugrana are confident of the youngster penning down a new deal to remain at the club. Nevertheless, if talks for a new contract do not progress, Gavi has numerous options to choose from, particularly Liverpool, who can arguably benefit the most from his signing.
The Spaniard’s style to initiate quick counterattacks fits like a glove in Liverpool’s system of Gegenpressing. With Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future in our starting XI in doubt, it would make the most sense to get onboard a new midfielder as soon as possible.
The two have been battling with injuries for the past couple of seasons and have been left out of our squad for the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Liverpool’s problems are out in the open with the lack of midfielders. The Reds would not want such problems to come up again, and could maybe sign a midfielder this winter window.
A player like Gavi can really mature and become one of the world’s best under a manager like Jurgen Klopp. The Reds do have youngsters like Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott playing in central midfield, but they all played as wingers in their formative years.
More Liverpool News
- Graeme Souness expresses concern over Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool form
- Liverpool star Roberto Firmino is among three Reds in the Brazil squad
- Player News: Liverpool set to offer new contract to Naby Keita
Gavi, like Jude Bellingham, has been bred as a central midfielder. The Englishman, meanwhile, is another young midfielder that the Reds have set their sights on and could make a move for him in 2023.
