German wonderkid ‘scouted’ by Liverpool, and the $77 million masterstroke is revealed

Liverpool transfer news: Dominik Szoboszlai’s ranking on the Reds’ list of targets is being questioned, and the Reds are reportedly keeping an eye on the same player as Brighton.

The 2023/24 season is now well under way, with Liverpool beginning its Europa League and domestic cup competitions in the last week and getting closer to the 10-game mark in the Premier League — the first significant checkpoint each year.

There will undoubtedly be ongoing work on the recruitment front behind the scenes as the Reds look for opportunities in January and next summer, even though the majority of the attention will naturally be on what is happening on the field.

Despite the strong start Jürgen Klopp’s team has made (16 points from 18 games in the top flight) and its current seven-game winning streak overall, there are still a few gaps that need to be filled.

For instance, Liverpool has only been able to keep one clean sheet in its first eight games, which does not necessarily indicate a strong foundation for a group that aspires to be a title contender.

Therefore, it may be necessary to bolster the defensive midfield or center-back positions at the start of the new year.
The Liverpool.com assessment of the latest rumors surrounding the Reds’ transfer situation is provided below.

Raul Paula (Stuttgart)

Liverpool and Brighton have been scouting according to Ed Aarons of The Guardian, Liverpool and Brighton have been keeping an eye on Stuttgart’s promising midfielder Raul Paula.

Paula, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who can also play as a winger, is currently representing Stuttgart’s B-team in the fourth tier of German football and has not yet made an appearance for the senior team.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru End, and Ryan Gravenberch were based in Germany, and that may have been due to the influence of sporting director Jörg Schmadtke, who has previously worked for Wolfsburg and Hannover.
Liverpool made four signings last summer, and three of them were German players: Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru End, and Ryan Gravenberch.

According to Liverpool.com: Paula hasn’t yet been put to the test at the senior level, but in the youth ranks, he has shown a lot of promise, according to Liverpool .
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He has already tallied six goals in nine domestic matches this season, and he has also earned four caps for Germany’s Under-18 team.

Given Brighton’s history of discovering hidden gems, it appears positive that it is interested.
Due in large part to this, the Seagulls are currently third in the Premier League despite having the sixth-most expensive team (according to Transfermarkt).

Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

Liverpool’s summer transfer wishlist didn’t include Dominik Szoboszlai at the top. Liverpool finally succeeded in acquiring Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig at the beginning of July after triggering the $77 million (£60 million/€70 million) release clause in his contract.

The Reds had previously abandoned their pursuit of Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund and lost out to Manchester United in the competition for Mason Mount.
However, it appears to have been effective.

After a stunning goal from the Hungarian on Wednesday against Leicester altered the outcome of the Carabao Cup match, the Hungarian essentially performed a lap of honor and saluted each side of the Anfield field as the final whistle blew. He immediately adapted to life in Liverpool and feels right at home there.
The fact that he came onto the field and immediately assumed control while looking so at ease says a lot about how quickly he adjusted to life as a star for Liverpool.

Liverpool.com: Given how well Szoboszlai has begun his Liverpool career, scoring two spectacular goals and winning the team’s Player of the Month award for August, fans may shudder at the thought that the club may not have signed him.

Bellingham, who has scored six goals in his first seven appearances for Real Madrid, was a player whose acquisition would not have raised any eyebrows but whose price tag of $142 million (£115 million/€134 million) put him in a completely different price range.

It is unclear whether Mount will start for United once he is fully fit after Sofyan Amrabat was signed to replace Casemiro.
A move for Mount would probably have caused more controversy.