Trent Alexander-Arnold has always thrived for Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, but he has become particularly important with the role that debuted in the league clash against Arsenal at Anfield last season. That hybrid position really suits him.
The Reds’ run of form from the moment he started to feature there saw a turning point in what was a disappointing campaign. It was the catalyst that fired Liverpool into Premier League title contention just months later.
But there is no one else who can play in Alexander-Arnold’s inverted full-back role. The vice-captain is the hardest player to find an alternative for, but recent news has provided an option that could be the final puzzle piece of Klopp’s midfield.
Despite being linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Sky Germany’s Kerry Hau reports that Joshua Kimmich is open to a new challenge in the summer. However, he would prefer to move to the Premier League or La Liga rather than join the French side.
Barcelona has been the side linked most with Kimmich from Spain, with Real Madrid having already built its midfield, but ongoing financial problems indicate that if the Germany international does leave the Allianz Arena, teams in England have the best chance of landing him.
Set to enter the final year of his contract in the summer, it is expected that his $82m (£65m/€75m) TransferMarkt valuation will drop, but there could be an issue for Liverpool regarding his wages. The Reds, according to AS, are keen on him.
But Kimmich would be the second-highest earner behind Mohamed Salah if Liverpool agreed to match his current deal, which comes in at around $411,000-per-week (£322,000/€375,000-per-week), according to Capology. But while an obstacle, the acquisition of Kimmich could be a significant one in the make-up of Klopp’s squad.
As well as providing a back-up option to Alexander-Arnold, Kimmich could also establish himself as a starting midfielder, particularly in defensive midfield where he has shined for the Bundesliga champions this season. That would enable Liverpool to play its strongest version of the box formation yet, with Kimmich or Alexander-Arnold both able to play as the inverted playmaker, or alongside each other.
Interestingly, FBref ranks both Kimmich and Alexander-Arnold in the top two percentile for progressive passes in their respective positions. Both are capable of unlocking defenses at will, and the Bayern Munich captain would only thrive behind the likes of Salah and Darwin Núñez. Given he is set to turn 29 next month, the deal would effectively be a repeat of the transfer for Thiago Alcântara.
Much excitement has surrounded the idea of Thiago playing in Liverpool’s current midfield, but with less than six months to go on his contract, he has little time remaining to convince the Reds to sign him to new terms. Should he fail to feature much this season, a significant proportion of the wage budget will be freed up on his release in the summer.
A player of Kimmich’s caliber is rarely available without the interference of Real Madrid, and he could be too difficult to turn down if available for a figure in the region of $32m (£25m/€29m), as suggested by the Daily Star. That gives something for Klopp to think about ahead of the upcoming transfer window, in which his additions could turn Liverpool into a Champions League contender.
