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Most seem to think Liverpool are in need of a midfield player this summer, and not just any midfielder. Rather one who would take on a deeper lying role. Whether that’s as destroyer or creator is open to opinion, but most seem to think a man to sit at the base of Brendan Rodgers’ midfield is a priority.
That has led to the linking—widely panned by those with actual connections to the club—with Inter Milan’s Mateo Kovacic. It has also seen reports that, as of a week ago, Real Madrid were prepared to sell them Asier Illaramendi, a set of rumours that has since seemingly disappeared completely, which hardly seems to signal an almost done deal.
Now, it has newspapers in Portugal claiming the club sent scouts to every one of that country’s U21 matches at this summer’s European Championships. And that it wasn’t to keep an eye on Tiago Ilori. Instead, it was to watch Sporting destroyer William Carvalho, who deservedly took home player of the tournament honours.
Liverpool have been linked with the 23-year-old defensive midfielder before, so it’s not a major stretch to think they might have been watching him over the past few weeks at the U21 Euros. And he’s a player who the club should at the very least be interested in, one of the best young defensive midfielders in the game and a player who can still grow.
Rumoured to now be weighing up a bid, it has been widely reported Carvalho will cost in the region of £20M, but if Liverpool do decide to officially send in an offer they’ll have some competition. Carvalho has been linked to Liverpool before, but recently it’s mostly been Arsenal and Manchester United thought of as frontrunners.
Both could offer Champions League football, though Liverpool could offer a better chance at playing time for Carvalho. If, like Roberto Firmino, he buys into the project, that could be enough. Still, it all seems a touch tenuous, reports the club have been watching one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders and may make a move.
Still, if Liverpool really are in the market for a holding player, either of the creator or destroyer variety, they could do an awful lot worse than Carvalho.
