Top News

Planet Football

·25 July 2026

Planet Football

·25 July 2026

Liverpool may have to enter the midfield market if they want to ensure Andoni Iraola’s squad is strong enough to compete on every front this season.

Up to now in this transfer window, Liverpool have been concentrating on other priorities. Signing a new winger to replace Mohamed Salah is still the biggest job they need to complete.

However, there was a drop in their midfield’s level last season, so a fresh arrival could help them get back on track.

Iraola, like his predecessor Arne Slot, usually prefers a setup with two central midfielders and a number 10. But he wants his double pivot to be more aggressive and capable of playing quick, progressive passes.

Given how much Iraola values a high press, his midfield will have to do plenty of work both with and without the ball.

So if Liverpool are looking to add someone alongside the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, who should they be considering?

A natural starting point would be a player who already understands Iraola’s methods well, having played under them for the last three years.

Iraola helped nurture Scott as he made the jump to the Premier League by joining Bournemouth in 2023. Now, the 22-year-old is one of the most sought-after English midfielders in the league.

Almost every major club has been linked with him. But if he had the chance to follow Iraola to Liverpool, it would surely be tempting.

Scott is superb at keeping control of the ball and dealing with pressure. He understands exactly what makes an Iraola midfield function and looks just as ready for the next stage of his career.

Even with Iraola in place, Liverpool do not have a straightforward route to signing Scott, so they will need to keep other choices available.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Crystal Palace star Wharton has also put himself on the radar of major clubs through his performances since stepping up from the Championship.

Now a fully established England international, even though he missed out on the World Cup squad, Wharton should have a strong future ahead of him.

Like Scott, he is 22 and still has his best years ahead. What makes Wharton stand out is his ability to control possession, which could suit Iraola’s attack-minded style.

Originally from Blackburn, Wharton would be able to move back to the north west by joining a club like Liverpool.

As was the case last year, most of the talk around Baleba concerns Manchester United. Would anyone like to hijack that move?

There is no certainty that Baleba is heading for Old Trafford. United have other names on their list besides the Brighton player, who has been priced out of a move in recent transfer windows.

From a stylistic point of view, though, he could be a strong fit for Iraola’s Liverpool. He covers a lot of ground and keeps the ball well when at his best, and Baleba could fill a gap in the Reds’ midfield.

His levels dipped last season, though, so any club interested in him will have to be cautious about his valuation.

If Liverpool want to widen their search beyond the Premier League, they should be thinking about Borussia Dortmund’s Nmecha.

A graduate of the Manchester City academy, Nmecha can operate in several midfield roles. One of his biggest strengths is his ability to carry the ball forward effectively.

He also likes to play forward passes often, which would fit neatly into Liverpool’s new tactics.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Sano has been a standout for Mainz over the last couple of seasons.

The Japan international is excellent as a ball-winner, but he also has the intelligence to recycle possession with short passes that would make him very suitable for Iraola’s style.

Sano was at the World Cup with his country this summer and, at the age of 25, could be ready for a bigger stage at a club like Liverpool.

He has two years left on his contract with Mainz, who could begin to lose value from him if they do not renew his deal within the next 12 months, and may therefore be better off cashing in now.

One Ligue 1 option worth looking at would be Monaco’s Camara, who has developed into a top talent at the age of 22.

Camara covers a huge amount of ground and regularly stops opposition attacks with his interceptions and tackles.

But he can also match his work off the ball with what he does on it, offering a strong passing range that has brought him to the attention of many interested clubs.

And if Liverpool could turn it into a double deal with Maghnes Akliouche as the Salah replacement, they would be on to a winner.

LiveNorth Texas1Los Angeles Football Club 2287'Watch

LiveVentura County FC0San Jose Earthquakes II038'Watch

TrabzonsporEintracht FrankfurtWatch

Portland Timbers 2Real MonarchsWatch

FC Cincinnati 2New England Revolution IIWatch

Houston Dynamo 2Austin FC IIWatch

Orlando City BHuntsville City FCWatch

St Louis CITY2Vancouver Whitecaps FC IIWatch