If Liverpool can address two problems, Jürgen Klopp already has a new Fabinho who is similar to Moisés Caicedo.

Liverpool need a ‘new Fabinho’ as Jurgen Klopp approaches the new season without a permanent number six. But he already has a Moisés Caicedo figure in the ranks.

In a dream transfer window, Jürgen Klopp would undoubtedly get away with twice at Brighton. Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and re-teaming him with Moisés Caicedo would be a ruthlessly effective way to fill the Fabinho gap.

In April, Sky Sports reported that Caicedo was an interesting player for Liverpool. They have cited him as a player who could make up for Jude Bellingham’s missed entry, but like the Englishman, Brighton’s in-demand midfielder is an excellent all-rounder and could even be a solution to Fabinho’s farewell.

Since then, transfer reports have stalled, with Chelsea the leading candidate. With several big offers rejected, it seems clear that Caicedo has long since moved out of the price range Liverpool would like to operate in.

If anything, Caicedo’s unavailability underlines the deal Liverpool made with Mac Allister, having taken advantage of a very advantageous release clause. But a player similar to his former Brighton colleague – someone who is both a six and an eight, with proven world-class qualities – would make Klopp feel a lot better about the situation in midfield. That player may already be in the ranks of Liverpool. Although Klopp has mainly used him up front, his numbers paint him as a very similar proposition to Caicedo, with numbers of tackles far exceeding last season’s version of Fabinho.

Come forward, Thiago Alcântara. With Caicedo ranked his most comparable player in Europe’s top five leagues by FBref, their profile is flawless. After welcoming Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the number eight roles and watching the development of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, Klopp could now see his Spanish master as a dedicated number six. The biggest myth about Thiago’s career at Liverpool is that he is weak in possession. The opposite is clearly true. His 3.35 tackles per 90 minutes last year placed him in the 95th percentile of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, despite him playing for a team that dominates possession. For context, Fabinho recorded 2.13 tackles per game over the same period.

Thiago is also an expert on wiretapping. The same ability to read the game that makes him so good in possession also allows him to deflect attacks.

So where do these defensive misconceptions about Thiago come from? One possibility is that fans realize the very real problem that the Spaniard has a tendency to take unnecessary risks in dangerous areas, a habit that can create chances out of thin air for the opposition.

It’s a clearly unusual trend for Fabinho and Klopp would need to address it before he can truly trust Thiago as his number six. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich star was disowned 1.67 times per 90 minutes last season, putting him well below the Premier League’s fourth percentile. With 0.38, Fabinho was in the 93rd percentile.

However, given his playing intelligence and ability to follow instructions, there is reason to be optimistic that Thiago can adapt. Particularly when deployed as a deeper midfielder, he could certainly be struck by the importance of a safety-based approach.

It is the second problem which seems a little more insurmountable and which could force Klopp to return to the transfer market. While Caicedo made 37 appearances last season, Thiago made just 18, with the veteran struggling with fitness issues since he arrived at Anfield. Although this is a ‘stop-gap’ in Thiago’s final year of contract, there is no real reason to be optimistic that his fitness can reach the level Liverpool need. It would certainly be unwise for Klopp to rely on his existing line-up in the middle of the park knowing that his only solution Fabinho for the senior is so injury-prone.

However, Thiago’s presence at least means Liverpool could potentially walk away with just one more signing in midfield. There’s no denying that it’s still a risk, but it’s a calculated risk – especially if the money saved is invested in bringing in defensive staff.

Signing a young number six like Roméo Lavia and then balancing your minutes with Thiago and Stefan Bajčetić seems like a sensible path. Days away are to be expected for the oldest member of the trio, but the young duo are said to have enough confidence during these times to get involved.

Of course, a young and fit Thiago would be the ultimate transfer dream and that’s basically Caicedo. But given the realities of Liverpool’s budget and the very real need to kick out an elite ‘unicorn’ defender with his left foot, Klopp may already be thinking about his new Fabinho.