It could end up being a similar story for both Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag to end the summer transfer window with neither Liverpool or Manchester United looking likely to snap up a holding midfielder. Every year there seems to be a position all clubs are looking to fill.
The last few summers were dominated by teams looking for new central strikers with Manchester City signing Erling Haaland, Liverpool snapping up Darwin Nunez and Arsenal bringing in Gabriel Jesus. This year though has all been about a lack of midfielders on the market for teams up and down the league.
Liverpool’s need for midfield reinforcements was well documented heading into the summer and made even more essential with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leaving. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were solid starts to their transfer window, but they laboured in their bid for Romeo Lavia before Chelsea swooped in for the midfielder as well as stealing Moises Caicedo away from Liverpool.
Wataru Endo ended up being signed as someone capable of filling a role Liverpool desperately needed in their squad and he may be required to step in earlier than expected following Mac Allister’s red card against Bournemouth. But Liverpool fans will be expecting one more blockbuster signing to make up for the chaotic transfer pursuits of both Caicedo and Lavia.
United are in a similar boat themselves, albeit taking a different route to get there. The Red Devils’ transfer business has been done in stages with Mason Mount followed by Andre Onana before a striker was finally signed in Rasmus Hojlund.
Their delay in getting that deal over the line proved costly as the young striker arrived with an injury he picked up in pre-season with Atalanta. Signing a midfielder is next on United’s wishlist, but they need to offload fringe players to help raise necessary funds.
The problem United face is the likes of Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial are all on high wages that other clubs are prepared to match. It’s left United in limbo in trying to work out what they can do in the final days of the transfer window.
United want a player in a similar mold to what Liverpool are after, pitting the north west rivals against one another in the final days of the market. Ryan Gravenberch has been a target for both clubs, but Bayern Munich have been reluctant to listen to offers so far.
The Premier League duo have hardly filled fans with confidence this summer that they’ll eventually bring in someone capable of making a huge difference to their side. Up to Liverpool and United to prove them wrong, but time is running out to make something happen.
