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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.

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

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.

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