Three midfielders Liverpool should consider signing to finally replace Fabinho
- Liverpool were unable to find a long-term successor to Fabinho last summer
- Veteran midfielder Wataru Endo has suggested that perhaps the club should sign another 6
- So, who could finally replace Fabinho in the Liverpool midfield?
By Evan Curnew
After Fabinho departed for the Saudi League side Al-Ittihad last summer, Liverpool searched high and low to find a suitable successor. At two different points last summer, the club looked close to signing Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo; however, as fate would have it, both ended up at Chelsea.
Late in August 2023, Liverpool made a bit of a shock transfer to sign VfB Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo. The veteran Japanese midfielder perhaps did not set the world alight in his first season at the club, but he didn't look out of place in the Liverpool midfield. Endo himself recently said that, given his age, it may be in the club's best interests to sign another defensive midfielder to compete with him (source: Qoly Japan).
""Considering my age it may be good to sign another number 6. If that ultimately makes the team stronger, I welcome it.""
- Wataru Endo
So, who are three midfielders Liverpool should consider signing to finally replace Fabinho?
Three midfielders Liverpool should consider signing to finally replace Fabinho
1. Martin Zubimendi
Linked with Manchester United and Arsenal in the past, Martin Zubimendi could be poised to make a summer move. Zubimendi can be described as traditional defensive midfielder, where his best work goes from his ability to win duels, both ground and aerial.
Real Sociedad's formation will change from time to time but last season Zubimendi often sat behind Mikel Merino and Brais Mendez in the Basque club's midfield. Zubimendi's heatmap shows that despite his strong defensive prowess, he is also capable of moving forward as the midfielders above him also progress deeper into the opposition's half of the pitch.
Something that will be welcoming news to Liverpool fans is that Zubimendi has a tremendous track record of staying healthy. Besides his hamstring injury at the end of this past season before going to the Euros with Spain, Zubimendi has very sparsely missed games due to injury in his career—in fact, he's missed just ten games due to injury in his career.
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