Liverpool fans have plenty to look forward in the coming week as the club will return to the Champions League knock out action. The side have worked for it in the last year and a half and it’d be a shame if the European nights aren’t there next season.
Liverpool are in a good position to finish in the top four but with the closeness of the league table, one can’t really say if they will definitely play in the Champions League next season. One of the reasons why they could finish in the top four is Virgil van Dijk. A club record signing, he will add more quality at the back.
Liverpool could be pretty active in the coming summer as they have the money to spend. That, coupled with the impending departure of Emre Can mean the Reds need to earmark a good alternative. Can’s contract expires next summer and with no talks regarding an extension, it’s likely he’ll leave for free some June.
Though Naby Keita will join the Reds come summer, Liverpool need a few more fresh faces in the middle as the defence needs better protection. One of the names linked with a move to Merseyside is talented midfielder Wilfried Ndidi.
Reports indicate that Liverpool will have to pay as much as 50 million pounds for the Leicester City midfielder.
Ndidi – fact file
After the departure of N’Golo Kanté to Chelsea, Leicester needed someone who could break-up play and do the dirty work at the middle of the park. They went ahead and signed Nampalys Mendy but the Frenchman just didn’t have a similar impact owing to the players around him and a few niggling injuries.
After half a season where Leicester flattered to deceive, they signed Ndidi from Belgian side Genk in the winter transfer window. Though Ndidi didn’t impress immediately, a move in January perhaps turned out to be good for him as he had a bit of time to acclimatise before impressing in the ongoing season.
So far this season, Ndidi has managed to start every game and has played a key role in the side’s resurrection under Claude Puel. A central midfielder, Ndidi’s biggest strength is undoubtedly his ability to break play.
He is pretty good at winning the ball and has managed to win an incredible 4.2 tackles per game. Liverpool need a ball-winner at the centre of the midfield, so perhaps the Nigerian is a wise target. He is still only 21, though, so spending so much on someone who has performed for just one season would be risky.
Ndidi’s passing isn’t the best, so for all his defensive aspects, he does have a few areas to improve in. He will have better players around him, so perhaps his passing could improve at Merseyside.
Stats via Whoscored
