Mario Gotze
Liverpool have been busy in the transfer window this summer. The Merseyside club have already completed the signing of Monaco midfielder Fabinho for a reported fee of £39m and with the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig, the team will surely look a lot stronger than their current one.
Jurgen Klopp should be keen on making additions to the squad after the Reds stunningly collapsed in the Champions League final, losing 3-1 against Real Madrid in Kyiv. Along with Loris Karius’ blunders, it was Liverpool’s lack of depth that ultimately cost them the game.
The Reds’ talisman Mohammed Salah was substituted for a shoulder injury after a challenge from Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. Liverpool were made to bring on Adam Lallana, whose season was completely blighted by injuries. The midfielder was very much ineffective throughout the game.
Liverpool surprisingly failed in their pursuit of Nabil Fekir, with the club reportedly demanding a lower fee after medical scans showed the midfielder had a knee issue. Lyon immediately announced that all negotiations with the club had been concluded and there would be no further talks.
The German has already been looking at a number of alternatives and one such player who has been attracting interest is Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze. Klopp and the player share a close relationship from their time together at Dortmund.
The German would prove to be a massive signing for the Reds if they can go all the way and complete the deal. He is a very versatile midfielder who is capable of playing a wide number of attacking roles. If Liverpool do snap up the German international, let’s take a look at how he would fit into this midfield set-up.
The midfielder was a surprise signing. He is expected to take Henderson’s role in the squad and will certainly be a great addition to the midfield. Tall, strong, commanding and not afraid to have a go at players, Fabinho was an influential member of the Monaco side. He will certainly be a great upgrade on the captain, whose form has never really kicked off due to his persistent ankle injuries.
The 26-year-old German will be expected to take up Coutinho’s role in the side. He may be a completely different player as compared to the Brazilian but he is surely not short of ability or skill. His versatility will enable Klopp to rotate and make adjustments to his role in the side and their close bond should help the player get accustomed to the team easily.
The Guinea international is expected to go straight into the starting line-up and Liverpool were fortunate enough to snap him up in time. The midfielder has Kante-like abilities and is relentless off the ball. With him in the middle of the park, the pressure on the defence will be reduced by a huge margin.
This formation would see Keita and Fabinho slot into the CDM role just behind the attacking midfielder. Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah will play on the right and the left respectively, and Mario Gotze will take up a CAM role just behind Firmino. The Brazilian would thrive off the German midfielder’s support right behind him.
