Liverpool Transfers: 5 midfielders to consider signing this summer

Lyon CM Houssem Aouar

A more affordable young option than Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Barella but with a big reputation in his own right, Houssem Aouar is almost certain to leave Lyon this summer. He could have left for a bigger club in Europe last summer, but teams just didn’t have the money to buy him during the first pandemic summer. Arsenal and Juventus were very much hot on his heels.

The same could be true of the Gunners and Bianconeri in 2021, though Liverpool could very well join them with interest in the Lyon playmaker. Aouar is one of the best dribbles in the midfield you’ll find in any of the top five leagues, and that kind of ball-carrying ability and creativity would be huge for the Reds.

Gini Wijnaldum leaves a lot of engine lacking in that midfield. Aouar could help recover some of that offensively, and Liverpool already have Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho to provide the defensive work. The same can be said of Jordan Henderson, too.

Liverpool may need to upgrade their creativity and attacking threat. That’s where Aouar comes in. At a potential price of 30 million euros, Aoaur would be a steal. These kinds of high-upside, attacking-minded midfielders are not easy to find at a low price, so Fenway Sports Group should consider abandoning an overly stingy approach here if there’s a credible shot at Aouar.