Liverpool transfer shortlist may be a Jorg Schmadtke smokescreen for four stars

Liverpool have four players on their shortlist to replace Saudi Arabia-bound Fabinho – but the list of names released by the club might be a smokescreen. The deals the Reds complete often come with very little forewarning, such as the sudden arrival of Dominik Szoboszlai. But on Saturday, with Fabinho headed to Al-Ittihad for £40million, a list of four targets was shared.

Man City’s Kalvin Phillips, Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch were the quartet. Yet given how Liverpool like to go about their business quietly, they might actually be more seriously pursuing some alternative options that have not been mentioned, at least not outside of Jorg Schmadtke and Jurgen Klopp’s WhatsApp chat.

Express Sport looks at four potential players who fit that billing…

Florentino Luis

A popular name with Liverpool supporters on social media, Florentino is a 23-year-old holder who last season became a key man for Benfica. The tenacious Portuguese under-21 international made 54 appearances in a breakthrough campaign after two years on loan at Monaco and Getafe.

Florentino’s numbers compare well to Fabinho’s and his profile suggests he would be an ideal successor because he’s strong on the ball, in terms of passing and dribbling, as well as off it. He has a £103million release clause in his contract but it has been mooted he could be available for a third of that.

Benfica are notoriously shrewd negotiators, though. The ball-winning talent who stands at over 6ft is on a low wage at around £22,000 per week which is a positive for Liverpool but he’s under contract until 2027, meaning his current club are in a strong position.

Youssouf Fofana

Liverpool wanted Aurelien Tchouameni last year, before the Frenchman swapped Monaco for Madrid. In his compatriot Youssouf Fofana, also playing in the Principality, they could sign a holding midfielder stylistically similar.

The 6ft 1ins Fofana is 24 years old and a 10-cap France international. Proficient at intercepting the ball and breaking up play, Fofana has played at least 33 of Monaco’s 38 Ligue 1 games in each of the last three seasons, showing that he’s durable too.

With Fabinho strong in aerial duels, Fofana could replicate that strength. He’s also capable of playing as a No 8 if required and can drive forward in possession. Fofana – under contract until June 2025 – earns less than £10,000 a week currently so would fit into the wage structure at Liverpool. 

Tyler Adams

A player, who like Lavia and Phillips, comes with Premier League experience is Leeds’ Tyler Adams. The American only joined 12 months ago after three-and-a-half seasons being schooled at RB Leipzig. The tireless 24-year-old is a pressing monster and is around 5ft 7ins so might operate best as a No 8 rather than a No 6, though could be a N’Golo Kante-like ground coverer for Klopp.

Adams has suggested he wants to stay at Leeds to get the Whites back into the Premier League. But the lure of playing for a club of Liverpool’s size and prestige could be an offer too tempting to turn down for a player with 36 US caps and nearly 250 club-level appearances.

There is talk of a £30m relegation release clause in his contract after he cost the Yorkshire club £20m a year ago. One concern with Adams, however, might be that he has had multiple muscle injuries in the last few seasons and Liverpool desperately need midfielders as resistant as possible to knocks and niggles.

Edson Alvarez

The least likely of the four but a candidate nonetheless, Ajax defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez is still in Amsterdam despite long being linked with a move away. The Mexican international is the oldest of this quartet at 25, and 26 in October, but is the most experienced as a result, with 260 outings at club level and a massive 67 Mexico appearances to his name.

The industrious Alvarez has spent four seasons as a regular at Ajax so is capable in possession but thrives most at winning it and being a destroyer. The 6ft 1ins defensive midfielder is under contract until 2025 on his £35,000-a-week salary and would cost around £35m to £40m.

A former Chelsea target for old boss Thomas Tuchel, Alvarez can also operate as a centre-back which is a handy skill. West Ham are already in contact with Ajax about him, though, and he might be better suited to the Hammers’ level than Liverpool’s.