Liverpool are in talks to sign the £100m World Cup star

Liverpool lost their star in Mohamed Salah, but don’t forget, it wasn’t too long after the painful sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona that the Jurgen Klopp era began.

Klopp came, saw, conquered, and was replaced by Arne Slot in 2024, who came, saw, conquered, and collapsed within a two-year period.

It would be a mistake not to think of mitigating factors, but Liverpool stumbled so far on the track established under Klopp’s management that Slot’s time was not allowed, even after bringing the Premier League title in his first year.

Now, Andoni Iraola is working with FSG bosses Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to find a new road, and that requires significant investment in the summer transfer market – again.

Liverpool are close to signing the Premier League star

FSG decision-makers have accepted that many of Liverpool’s downfalls in the 2024/25 season came from a lack of pace and power. Cody Gakpo was one-sided throughout, with Salah getting older and lacking his one-time power and strength.

However, you can equally point to midfield as the center of many of Liverpool’s problems throughout the year. Alexis Mac Allister and co failed to support Slot’s plan, and now that Slot is gone, there are murmurs that his Argentine lieutenant could be sold again.

There’s no question that if Liverpool are going to lose their skin in the middle of the park, they will need to re-tool themselves with some talent. With that in mind, Ayyoub Bouaddi could be another target, the 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder at the World Cup, who is also wanted by Arsenal.

He could demand money somewhere in the region of £60m this summer, with LOSC Lille believing they have a rising star on their hands.

According to TEAMtalk, however, the Merseysider has been contacted by representatives of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has also been the subject of an official request from Arsenal a few days ago.

Newcastle are determined to retain the services of their star player this summer, even after finishing 12th in the Premier League last year.

It is worth noting that the Gunners’ offer of £55m was laughed off by the Magpies, who pegged the 28-year-old as a £100m player.

Guimaraes is one of the best midfielders in the world, and although he is not the youngest, it would mark a significant improvement in Iraola’s engine room at Anfield.

Why Guimaraes is the midfielder Liverpool should sign

Guimaraes has orchestrated Newcastle’s rise to the top under Eddie Howe over the past four-and-a-half years, but he may have reached the end of his batteries at St. James’ Park.

This is, after all, one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League, an all-rounder who mixes strength and physicality with the technical skills of more than the lion’s share of his rivals across Europe.

Bouaddi could be a midfielder with the ability to develop into a mainstay in Iraola’s Liverpool midfield, but he may not be the best player given Liverpool’s current situation.

There is no denying Bouaddi’s genius. He has the potential to develop into a top-class midfielder, who has been praised by commentator Asim Mahmood, who said he is “going to be a star”.

But Liverpool need to see a sharp improvement from the start of next season, and Guimaraes will enjoy a more prominent impact, a leader and successful Premier League midfielder with a decade more experience than his younger counterpart.

But he’s not there yet, with Guimaraes still a “world-class” midfielder for Newcastle and Brazil, with commentator Raj Chohan hailing him as such after his tough midfield performance against Scotland for the Selecao.

These two players are similar in many ways, they are beautiful and opposite, they are energetic and efficient in football. Both boast a wide variety of qualities, evidenced by their stats during the 2024/25 campaign, but Guimaraes is arguably sharper and more refined in his handling of his skills.

This one may sound far-fetched, but the truth is that Liverpool need to sign a midfielder this summer, and with the Brazilian manager looking to rekindle interest in his client after Newcastle’s disappointing campaign, Anfield seems to present one of the most suitable destinations for him to move to.

Bouaddi’s time will come, but if Liverpool are determined to put their latest news to rights, they will move quickly to bring one of the Premier League’s biggest stars to a resurgent Anfield.

Guimaraes and Bouaddi work with the same tactical parameters, and with that in mind, the question has been answered in FSG, which should prompt a change soon.