Liverpool's midfield shortage forces bid for defensive midfielder

Liverpool have tabled a bid for a defensive midfielder as Andoni Iraola’s side find themselves stretched in the engine room early in the campaign, with the Reds yet unbeaten in the Premier League since January but clearly lacking balance in midfield profiles.

Iraola has enjoyed an unbeaten start to his Anfield tenure, not losing a Premier League match since January. Yet the Basque manager faces huge concerns over squad depth and an imbalance of player profiles at his disposal.

Liverpool’s attacking options are plentiful, with several big‑money talents operating on the left and up front, leaving no doubts about the forward line. The real question, however, is how swamped the Merseysiders are in midfield.

Double‑pivot experiment at Anfield

This weekend Iraola deployed a double‑pivot of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in a 1‑0 victory over his former club Bournemouth. Szoboszlai’s presence in a two‑man midfield has become a fixture of the season’s start. Former player Jamie Carragher has already criticised Liverpool’s midfield set‑up. The Reds made an offer for Aleksandar Stankovic over the summer after his impressive season at Club Brugge. The Serbian, son of Inter legend Dejan, was linked to the deal that saw Curtis Jones move to San Siro, but he chose to stay at Inter, halting the transfer.

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Stankovic has lingered on the periphery of Inter’s squad this season, and a move for more playing time could materialise in January. Transfermarkt values him at €32 million.

Liverpool’s most senior defensive‑minded central midfielders are Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, while Trey Nyoni has shown glimpses of promise. Iraola is keen to give Nyoni ample opportunities this term.

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The club reinforced the first XI this summer with Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet, yet not every target was secured. Concerns also linger at full‑back, with 2025 signings Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong struggling early, and Yankuba Minteh’s bid to replace Mohamed Salah stalled by injury. Liverpool next face Manchester City when Premier League action resumes after the international break.