After confirming the signing of Hungarian footballer Dominik Szoboszlai, it appears that Liverpool are continuing with their pursuit of improving the squad ahead of the next season. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Anfield legend John Barnes to discuss the latest rumours surrounding the Liverpool transfer window and his hopes for Darwin Nunez next season.
Lavia on Liverpool’s radar
Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, with the 19-year-old also subject to reported interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. The Liverpool ECHO have reported that the Belgian is on Jurgen Klopp’s shortlist this summer. Barnes believes Lavia has the quality and enough experience after a year at Southampton to be a good signing for Liverpool.
“We are looking to get younger players into the squad because one of our problems last season was that a lot of our squad was aged between 29 and 33 so we needed to reduce the age of the playing squad and we’ve started to do that.”
“Look at the likes of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez. Diaz, Elliott, Bajcetc. We have made changes to make the squad younger.”
“Lavia has good quality and is fairly well experienced having been in the Premier League last season with Southampton so he would be a great signing.
“He would help make the squad younger as well as bring the qualities of a good defensive midfield player.”
Are Liverpool falling behind their rivals
With the likes of Man City and Arsenal strengthening their squads, is it a cause for concern that Liverpool haven’t been as active as them in this transfer market? Not according to Barnes who has no worries about Liverpool’s activity in the window so far. Alexis Mac Allister was joined by Hungarian midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai and Klopp isn’t yet done with adding improvements to his squad.
“The transfer window has just opened. Fans and the media need to calm down.”
Manchester City have only signed Matteo Kovacic. Arsenal only confirmed Havertz recently.”
“Liverpool are active in the market but no one has really signed anyone yet.”
“We know the players that we’re after and these deals take time.”
“Had it been later in the window and Arsenal and City had made their signings and we only confirmed Mac Allister it would be different.”
‘It’s early in the market and we’re leveraging for positions in terms of the price of players so let’s see how the market looks in two months’ time.”
Nunez hasn’t been brought in to score goals like Salah
All eyes will be on Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez this season coming after a mixed first season with Liverpool. During his final season at Benfica the forward scored 34 goals in 41 appearances.
Whilst he hasn’t been able to live up to such heights so far, Nunez showed flashes of his ability across the season as both a number nine and on the left side of a front three.
Nunez has had his fair share of criticism but Barnes believes Nunez was one of Liverpool’s better players and he has no worries about Nunez next season.
“Last year Liverpool as a team were inconsistent so naturally our younger and newer players were also going to be consistent.”
“I thought Nunez was one of our better, newer players.”
“Especially when you look at the amount of pressure that was on him.”
“I have no worries about Nunez.”
“I don’t think Nunez will be a 40 goal a season striker but he gives the team energy, pace, aggression, he’s willing to work hard, hold the ball up and bring people into play.”
“Nunez hasn’t been brought in to score the same amount of goals as Mo Salah but he’ll add to our team next season.”
