Richard Hughes is lining up a potentially very exciting midfield transfer for Liverpool.
Now that the attack and the defence are all but ‘sorted’ the club’s sporting director’s focus will fall on the midfield.
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This is an area where Hughes doesn’t necessarily need to bolster Liverpool’s options too much. We are long gone from the days of Jorg Schmadtke needing to sign four midfielders in one summer transfer window.
Or Martin Zubimendi rejecting the Reds in favour of the stunning mountain landscapes of San Sebastian.
With Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence Liverpool’s desperate need for a holding midfielder has turned into oblivion. But at the same time Arne Slot wants the Reds to be the best in the world.
That means Hughes will never rest on his laurels and the reality is that Liverpool could probably do with at least one more midfielder who can provide a bit more stability and creativity in the middle of the park.
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Well, who could that midfielder be?
There’s been a lot of talk of Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton. Lamine Camara is another option.
But Liverpool have also potentially eyed another exciting gem in the position.
According to TEAMtalk, the Reds are interested in Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille, alongside a host of other clubs which includes Manchester United and AC Milan.
Bouaddi is regarded as one of European football’s hottest prospects at the moment. He’s only 17-years-old and he’s already a nominee for the Golden Boy award.
Liverpool have signed two Golden Boy award nominees already this season with Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni joining the Reds.
© IMAGO – Ayyoub Bouaddi Liverpool
Bouaddi could be the next in line and this could be a sensational transfer for the Reds if they manage to beat the stiff competition in the race for the youngster’s signature.
At such a young age, Bouaddi already has 57 (!) appearances for Lille. Ligue 1 has probably not seen such an exciting prospect since Eduardo Camavinga broke through at Rennes.
Bouaddi reads the game really well. He’s very athletic and tall.
Not to mention he’s impressively fast. He is right-footed but he can occupy the left-side of the midfield and could potentially play alongside Gravenberch to play as a double pivot.
A more sitting midfielder than roaming forward, he reads the game well and he is very competent under pressure.
On paper he has all the tools to be one of the best midfielders in Europe for more than a decade. If Liverpool sign him given his age they could tie the club’s midfield down for the next 15 years.
This is why it would be such a sensational move from Hughes and why this is definitely something to keep a close eye on.
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