How Liverpool could line-up next season after £85m Darwin Nunez transfer

 

Liverpool are interested in signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez who is valued at around £85m and also wanted by Manchester United 

Jurgen Klopp will be busy moulding his Liverpool team that he hopes to bring further glory to Anfield next season.

The Reds finished last season with two major trophies, but will feel disappointed to miss out on the Premier League title and the Champions League. Despite that, Liverpool still managed to secure the FA Cup and Carabao Cup to add to the trophy cabinet.

With the season only finishing a couple of weeks ago, talk is already starting over who Klopp will be looking to bring in. Liverpool have got one deal over the line before the window even opened.

Fabio Carvalho completed a move to Liverpool from Fulham, with a £5m deal plus add-ons agreed with the newly-promoted club. He became the first summer signing for the Reds, and it’s not likely to stop there.

Benfica striker Darwin Nunez continues to be heavily linked with a move to Anfield. Liverpool are keen on bringing the 22-year-old to Merseyside, and the feeling is mutual from the player’s perspective.

Nunez wants a move to Anfield although Liverpool are reluctant to do business at Benfica's asking price of €100million (£85.5m) and won't be drawn into a bidding war, with Manchester United in particular also interested in the player. However, those close to Benfica have indicated the Portuguese side are open to a structured deal which would see Liverpool pay an initial €80m (£68.4m) set fee with €20m (£17.1m) in add-ons.

Any transfer, though, is dependent on the Reds raising funds by moving on some of their other forwards. Sadio Mane seems likely to sign for Bayern Munich, with Liverpool holding out for a fee close to £42.75m, while Takumi Minamino is nearing an expected £17m departure with a number of clubs interested.

With a busy summer window ahead, Liverpool’s starting line-up for the new season could be very different. In defence, though, there isn’t expected to be much change.

Alisson Becker is the firmly established number one, with Caoimhin Kelleher his understudy. The only possible change to this would be if the latter decides to leave for more game time, but that’s a big if at the moment.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are the two full-backs, while Virgil van Dijk is a mainstay at centre-back. The question becomes who partners him, with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez seasoned at Anfield now.

However, Ibrahima Konate impressed in his first season following a move from RB Leipzig. He could potentially be Van Dijk’s first-choice partner next season.

Into midfield and, unless a new signing walks through the door, it could very much be a familiar trio. Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are the first-choice midfield three, and that is unlikely to change.

Naby Keita, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and James Milner will be options, while new signing Carvalho could come into play, especially if Klopp decides to change formation. The new recruit can operate in a No-10 position in a 4-2-3-1, should the manager opt for a change of tactics.

Then up front we go and we only know for sure only certain starter - Mohamed Salah. The other two positions are going to be interesting.

Luis Diaz was a regular starter on the left wing in the latter half of the season, while Mane moved into the centre. And should Nunez move from Benfica, he would be expected to go through the middle.

Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will be the other two options at Klopp’s disposal. Elliott and Carvalho will also be able to be utilised in the forward areas, if need be.

Possible Liverpool XI for 2022/23 (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Diaz