Liverpool 'identify new No 6' after giving three players opportunity in pre-season

Liverpool are reportedly expecting to add a new holding midfielder to their ranks before the transfer window slams shut later this month.

Arne Slot was ushered in as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement earlier in the summer, but the Dutch boss has so far been quiet in the transfer market.

With less than two weeks until the new Premier League season gets underway, Liverpool are the only top-flight club yet to sign someone – something that could be about to change.

It’s reported by The Athletic that Liverpool will enter the market this summer, with the Reds hierarchy having identified a holding midfielder as their priority target.

It’s claimed by the report that the six-time European champions are keen to add a ‘specialist’ in that position, after Slot experimented with three current Liverpool stars during pre-season.

Both Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo operated as the lone six during Liverpool’s tour of the States, with the former receiving plenty of praise from new boss Slot.

As for Endo, it’s been reported Liverpool have already turned down bids this summer, despite the Japanese international arriving at Anfield for around £16million this time last year.

Elsewhere, Dominik Szoboszlai has – perhaps somewhat surprisingly – also featured in the six position for Liverpool under Slot, albeit to varying degrees of success.

Liverpool targetting a new holding midfielder shouldn’t come as a surprise though, given Slot’s predecessor also pushed for a new addition in that position.

It’s just under 12 months since Liverpool submitted an audacious offer for Moises Caicedo, who went on to sign for Chelsea as part of a nine-figure transfer.

The Merseyside outfit eventually landed on the much more affordable Endo, but that was after also trying their luck with Romeo Lavia – another player who ended up at Premier League rivals Chelsea.

And if they aren’t careful, Liverpool could find themselves in a similar position this summer.

Elite-level holding midfielders are hard to come by, with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal also exploring that market.

United had looked like signing Paris Saint-Germain ace Manuel Ugarte, but the three-time Champions League winners abandoned their pursuit having been priced out by the Ligue 1 outfit.

Arsenal however are said to be in the mix for Mikel Merino, with the Euro 2024 winner expected to leave Real Sociedad before the window closes on 30th August.

With limited number-six options available, Liverpool could find themselves in yet another transfer tussle this summer.