Leeds’ Tyler Adams could be Liverpool’s ideal Jordan Henderson successor at £20m

Liverpool may still need to sign another midfielder even if they snare Romeo Lavia to replace Fabinho as their starting No 6. The Brazilian is the fifth first-team midfielder to leave Anfield this summer while Jurgen Klopp has only added Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to his squad so far.

If Lavia joins for around £50million, that will take the Reds’ spending to around £160m, meaning the budget may be limited despite bringing in roughly £50m by selling captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabian clubs. But The Athletic report that Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is available for just £20m.

That’s thanks to a relegation release clause inserted into the contract he agreed when he moved to Elland Road 12 months ago. Statistically, Adams has all the makings of a monster – especially if he were to work under Klopp. He is excellent in pressures, defensive duels and for progressive passes.

The 24-year-old also has the Red Bull schooling that Liverpool love so much. Adams was a starter for MLS outfit New York Red Bulls for two seasons before becoming a pressing expert at RB Leipzig, where he spent four years before a £20m plus add-ons move to Leeds.

While Leeds were relegated last term, Adams was arguably their best player and certainly their chances of staying up were hurt badly by his season-ending injury in March. The US international is also the captain of his national team, having led the Americans out at the Qatar World Cup last winter, and fits the right profile in terms of age and experience.

There is plenty to be admired about the player – who can play at right-back as well as a defensive-minded midfielder. He would appear to be a handy replacement to replace Henderson, effectively as a younger version of the skipper when he was more energetic and one of the team’s pressing triggers.

The issue that could block a move for Adams, though, is his injury record. He has suffered regular muscle problems since the 2018-19 season and is currently recovering from a hamstring issue that required surgery back in March.

He will not be fit for the start of the new season. Manager Daniel Farke said of Adams and team-mate Jack Harrison: “They are still doing their rehab so they will definitely miss the start of the season. It’s a bit too early to judge when they will be back. I expect to perhaps be back after the first international break [in September].”

That might be enough to put Liverpool off in spite of Adams’ affordable price. Klopp and his staff were left frustrated by Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s poor availability.

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined the Anfield outfit in 2017 with Keita signing a year later. Both left on free transfers this summer after a combined 94 Premier League starts. Fabinho alone leaves having made 128 league starts in five seasons.

While Adams would arrive primarily as a squad player, his injury record is a major question mark given Klopp’s need for available players. Given the physical demands he asks of his midfielders, Klopp needs durable players to come in. Yet if Liverpool are looking to strengthen their options in the engine room at a reasonable price, Adams may still be worth a gamble given his suitability otherwise.