Carlos Baleba of Lille has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
We have another player on our radar, so the lengthy saga surrounding Liverpool FC’s connections to numerous midfielders could continue. The Reds are keeping an eye on Carlos Baleba of Lille.
This information comes from the Mail, which also asserts that Brighton is in talks to acquire the midfielder. The Cameroonian midfielder, 19, primarily plays defense but can also play central midfield. He is under contract with Lille through 2026, (Transfermarkt).
Newcastle United, Monaco, AC Milan, and Juventus have all expressed an interest in Baleba at various points. Lille has also been offered a £15 million fee by Brighton, exclusive of add-ons. After being promoted from the French club’s B-Team, the player only recently made his first-team debut. Although the player undoubtedly possesses a ton of talent, it is debatable whether Liverpool actually needs a player of his caliber.
We definitely need midfield reinforcements, as was evident in our first league game against Chelsea. The backline, which was very good at handling the pressure from Mauricio Pochettino’s attackers, felt almost as though we had no defensive cover in the middle of the field.
Does Liverpool require Baleba?
For the Reds, filling the void left by Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will be extremely challenging. Considering this, we require a player of equal or greater stature to take their places. While there is no denying that young players are excellent squad options, Stefan Bajcetic is already qualified to fill those kinds of positions. It would be slightly detrimental to these youngsters’ efficient development to have them compete for the same spot in the squad.
It is therefore crucial at this time to have a player who is well-established and capable of making an immediate impact. These kinds of players teach youngsters like Stefan, who can then step up when the time is right and take charge fully. With just over a month until the transfer window closes, Baleba is a great talent in his own right, but it’s unlikely that Liverpool should try to sign him.
Baleba appears to be a player who is still developing based on his WhoScored profile. We need players who can enter the lineup right away and claim the 6 spot as their own for the following two to three years.
The likelihood that Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia would have given Jurgen Klopp more options is slim to none. Instead of blowing all of our money on these players, spending it wisely on much more seasoned players would also help our own young players, like Tyler Morton and Stefan, develop into regular starters.
More news………
Trent Alexander-Arnold has confessed he cannot be the leader that James Milner was and has urged other Liverpool stars to fill the void.
Milner, 37, has now left Anfield for Brighton after a fantastic eight years at the club. He moved to Merseyside in June 2015 after five seasons with Manchester City. The Leeds-born ace won two Premier Leagues, an EFL Cup and an FA Cup with the Citizens.
And he added the 2018-19 Champions League to another Premier League triumph with the Reds. The former England winger also won both domestic cups with Liverpool but has now joined the Seagulls.
Milner left his contract this summer and signed a one-year contract with Amex with an option for an additional 12 months.
Since Jordan Henderson also left the club, Virgil van Dijk took over the captaincy.
Alexander-Arnold was named vice-captain. But the Englishman believes it will take a concerted effort to replicate the effect Milner had in the dressing room. “I play a role in making sure I live up to the standard every day,” she told the Daily Mail. “By losing Milner, you can’t replace him immediately. A lot of people will be needed. Others have to step forward.
“We have to make sure that the way he has continued to push us forward is replaced.”
Liverpool’s midfield will look very different in 2023/24. Fabinho, Naby Keita, Fabio Carvalho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined the departures of Henderson and Milner.
Carvalho’s departure was on loan to RB Leipzig for a year, while Roberto Firmino has also left.
There are newcomers too, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister now on board.
Alexander-Arnold aware of Liverpool’s role
Liverpool fans are hoping for a return to the form they played regularly in the Champions League until last season.
Nine defeats in the top flight have left them well off pace and in fifth place. That just means Europa League for the Anfield faithful.
They will open the season at home against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Alexander-Arnold will be one of the players Klopp will look to when the chips run out.
The man with 20 England caps knows he won’t have the same impact as Milner.
But he hopes to have qualities that can provoke a reaction from his teammates. “I am aware of myself. I know I will never be a James Milner,” he added.
“I will never be that kind of leader, but the leadership qualities that I have have to be demonstrated and they have to be seen, heard and used in an effective way for the team.”
“I have to keep pushing forward to try to achieve the things that I want to achieve.”
Alexander-Arnold could well be used in Klopp’s midfield this season. Last season he was used several times in the hybrid position. Gareth Southgate has also propelled him higher up the pitch for England and it could be that the future of the Liverpool man lies on the right side of midfield.
