The Need For a Defensive Midfielder
The disappointment of failing to land an elite or at least potentially elite defensive midfielder is still real, regardless of how well other recruits have performed so far this season. Though it is understandable given Chelsea paid way over the odds to sign both Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia £170m combined, it was still the slow and painful journey to making noteworthy recruiting decisions that cost us in the pursuit of that which was needed most. Below is the latest target to be added to a fairly expansive list, however, the comments made about the player by our own Alexis Mac Allister, certainly makes it an interesting proposition.
🗣️ Alexis Mac Allister on Ezequiel Fernandez:
“If you ask me a little more about my style, there’s one player I like a lot and that’s Equi Fernandez”
“He’s a player who has all the conditions to get to Europe one day and hopefully it can be given to him” https://t.co/3O0g6ILbcO
— Anfield Agenda (@AnfieldAgenda) October 25, 2023
The list of players that have been linked most frequently during and since the summer, are shown below, one which does not include André. Simply put, the Fluminense midfielder is not a specialist holding midfielder and if he were to be signed, it should be alongside that of a defensive shield to our back line, not in place of. I have noted the cost at which believe would be needed to sign each one in descending order, as well as other details.
Potential Other Defensive Midfielders
Cheick Doucouré
Club – Crystal Palace
Nationality – Mali
Age – 23-years-old DOB – 08/01/2003
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027
Projected Cost of Deal – £60m
Boubacar Kamara
Club – Aston Villa
Nationality – France
Age – 23-years-old DOB – 23/11/1999
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027
Projected Cost of Deal – £55m
João Palhinha
Club – Fulham
Nationality – Portugal
Age – 28-years-old DOB – 09/08/1995
Contract Expiry – June 30 2028 (1 year option)
Projected Cost of Deal – £55m
Florentino Luís
Club – Benfica
Nationality – Portugal
Age – 24-years-old DOB – 19/09/1999
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027
Projected Cost of Deal – £40m
Manu Koné
Club – Borussia Mönchengladbach
Nationality – France
Age – 22-years-old DOB – 17/05/2001
Contract Expiry – June 30 2026
Projected Cost of Deal – £35m
Boubacar Traoré
Club – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nationality – Mali
Age – 22-years-old DOB – 20/09/2001
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027 (1 year option)
Projected Cost of Deal – £25m
Lucas Gourna-Douath
Club – RB Salzburg
Nationality – France
Age – 20-years-old DOB – 05/09/2003
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027
Projected Cost of Deal – £25m
Soungoutou Magassa
Club – Monaco
Nationality – France
Age – 20-years-old DOB – 8/10/2003
Contract Expiry – June 30 2027
Projected Cost of Deal – £20m
Federico Redondo
Club – Argentinos Juniors
Nationality – Argentina
Age – 20-years-old DOB – 18/01/2003
Contract Expiry – June 30 2024
Projected Cost of Deal – £20m
Ezequiel Fernández
Club – Boca Juniors
Nationality – Argentina
Age – 21-years-old DOB – 18/01/2003
Contract Expiry – June 30 2025
Projected Cost of Deal – £20m
🚨 Brighton are one of the main contenders to sign Boca Juniors midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez. They have shown intention to make a bid in January for the 21yo, who’s expected to cost at least €20m.
[@BolavipAr]#bhafc pic.twitter.com/op3svWWCTt
— Brighton Bubble (@BrightonBubble) October 26, 2023
Ezequiel Fernández: A Promising Prospect for Future Recruitment
It is the last name on this list which has risen from nowhere this past week. To be commented upon by Alexis Mac Allister with such high regard, may not be pure coincidence, especially as we close in on the winter transfer window. As a player that is also on the radar of recruitment geniuses, Brighton, it may well be that this is someone that has been on the radar of the Seagulls for some time. With a need to stay ahead of the competition, Albion could have asked about his fellow countrymen some time ago, in the hope that the Premier League overachievers could steal a march on other admirers. Given that Alexis is a newly acquired Liverpool player, it may be that his status and ability to encourage the Boca Juniors destroyer, is something that could create an avenue for the Anfield club to explore. What this young player is, is a tenacious and talented holding midfielder who could offer the kind of South American traits that so often work well in red. I would actually be keen to sign both Ezequiel Fernández and Federico Redondo in the January window, with considerations also taken on both France internationals, Lucas Gourna-Douath and Soungoutou Magassa. By signing any two of those four more affordable players would introduce brilliant potential, that could be moulded within this regeneration.
With regards to Ezequiel Fernández specifically, I would very much be in favour of a move as he could offer everything this squad currently lacks, whilst being a future star of tomorrow before the £100m price tag arises.