Liverpool are hopeful of signing a new midfielder as early as January, according to a report that has named one of their main targets.
Liverpool’s midfield has been under scrutiny this season amid their overall inconsistent form. Some felt they needed to make a big signing in the position over the summer. However, they had to settle for Juventus misfit Arthur Melo on loan.
Arthur’s time at Anfield so far has not worked out due to injury. Some of their other options in the position have been unavailable themselves, or out of form.
All eyes will be on whether Liverpool invest in the role in 2023, which seems likely. Given their current standing, they might need to accelerate any plans for January.
Hence, Sky Germany is reporting that Liverpool are looking at RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer as someone whom they could acquire in the winter market.
By January, Laimer will be into the final six months of his contract, which he does not intend to extend. Therefore, Liverpool could sign him on a pre-contract agreement for the summer, or a cut-price fee for January.
According to Sky, Laimer is keen on a move to the Premier League despite also being on Bayern Munich’s radar. In the past, he has specifically said he supports Liverpool.
With that in mind, a move to Merseyside should be appealing for the 25-year-old. It is not clear how much it might cost Liverpool to get him immediately in January.
But by the summer, Sky predicts that there will be “significant investment” by the Reds elsewhere in the market. It remains to be seen how else they might want to strengthen.
In the meantime, they must focus on addressing their main concerns as soon as possible. Laimer, therefore, is someone whose name should appear in gossip columns for weeks to come.
Liverpool must check on Konrad Laimer fitness
The Austria international has four Bundesliga appearances to his name so far this season. He has been out since September with a syndesmotic ligament tear, though.
His return is expected by January, but suitors like Liverpool would have to carry out careful checks on his physical situation by then.
After all, bringing in Arthur only to lose him so soon has made Liverpool’s summer decision even more questionable than it already was. They need a reinforcement who can hit the ground running instead.
Laimer has enough quality to fill the void once he is back in form and fitness. But he might not be able to rush back into action, even if he is taking on a new challenge.
Time will tell if Liverpool are able to win the race to sign him.
It must be said that Bayern Munich have a good track record of pinching other talents from elsewhere in the Bundesliga. But they do not have the luxury of being able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Laimer like Liverpool would.
If RB Leipzig want to cash in while they can, though, it could be anyone’s game.
