Liverpool report: Jurgen Klopp wants Arsenal academy star in midfield
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is eyeing reinforcements in midfield midway through the season
Liverpool are chasing an Arsenal academy graduate to improve their midfield.
That's according to reports in Spain that suggest the Reds are set to plunder Valencia for Yunus Musah, who was brought through the Hale End system before departing for La Liga.
Jurgen Klopp has a wealth of midfield options on his books but with such injury problems in the middle of the park and the fact that many of his senior options, such as Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson, are the wrong side of 30, it seems likely that the Merseysiders will address this problem position sooner rather than later.
Spanish outlet Fichajes notes that the Anfield hierarchy are fans of Musah, who played against both England and Wales at the 2022 World Cup for the United States.
A dynamic, industrious presence in the middle, Musah is said to be valued at around €20 million, having established himself internationally while on the east coast of Spain. He left Arsenal three years ago in search of regular game time – and now Arsenal are apparently one of three English sides keeping tabs on him, along with Liverpool and Chelsea.
The 20-year-old was brought up in England and Italy, born in the US to Ghanaian parents and turned down representing the Three Lions. Gareth Southgate has since lamented losing the midfielder to the US, admitting that England were tracking him.
This would mean that Musah would likely command a homegrown spot in Liverpool's squad – and though he's been used all over the pitch at youth level, his physicality and technicality in midfield are his strongest suits, making him a perfect fit for either interior role in Klopp's set-up.
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According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds are "leading the race" for Musah, while ESPN claims that Inter Milan are also in the race for the starlet.
Musah is valued at €25m by Transfermarkt.
More Liverpool stories
Moises Caicedo could be one of two Brighton midfielders heading to Merseyside: the Reds are said to be in a four-way race to sign Alexis Mac Allister, with three European sides also reportedly keen on the Argentine World Cup winner.
Liverpool are also thought to be working on a £44m summer deal for Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, while they could go head-to-head with Tottenham for for Sofyan Amrabat, who starred for Morocco at Qatar 2022.
In other news, recent Anfield arrival Cody Gakpo has revealed that compatriot Virgil van Dijk influenced his decision to join the Reds.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.