Liverpool transfer news:Dominik Szoboszlai transfer could impact $25m Liverpool duo as Jürgen Klopp faces puzzle

If Liverpool does indeed sign Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, it could be bad news for two existing Jürgen Klopp stars, who will face increased competition.

A new transfer link has emerged on Merseyside over the past week, with Dominik Szoboszlai tipped for a move to Liverpool in the coming months. Jürgen Klopp is very much in the process of rebuilding his midfield department having lost James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta this summer, and he could have found an answer to his problems.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool is exploring the prospect of a transfer move for the Hungarian international, who has a contract with RB Leipzig which isn’t due to expire until 2026. It remains to be seen whether a deal will materialize at this stage, but the rumor will surely encourage supporters.

Upon inspection of his game, Szoboszlai appears to be exactly what Klopp needs, especially since the German coach changed Liverpool’s tactical approach at the beginning of April. Across his team’s last 10 matches, the Reds have adopted a 3-2-5 shape in possession, with Trent Alexander-Arnold drifting into midfield as an inverted full-back.

Alexander-Arnold’s presence alongside Fabinho in the center has allowed Liverpool’s number eights to push further up the field, predominantly operating in the final third. Curtis Jones has thrived since the tactical shift was made — which is hardly surprising given his offensive qualities — but the same cannot be said for Jordan Henderson on the right side.

The Liverpool skipper has given his all, but he is simply less suited to playing in such confined spaces. Now aged 33, Henderson is a functional talent who tends to prosper when he’s required to showcase discipline, defensive cover and industry. In the new system, though, he’s been asked to perform as a creative technician of sorts.
As it stands, Henderson looks likely to play often for Liverpool next term, as he is one of the few options that Klopp has who can play on the right of midfield, alongside youngster Harvey Elliott. The Reds pair seem destined to feature quite a lot next season, but that is why Szoboszlai could be a target.

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Many of the midfield options on Merseyside tend to favour the left, including Jones, Thiago Alcântara and new signing Alexis Mac Allister. Moreover, lots of the players who are said to be on Liverpool’s radar also prefer the left, including Ryan Gravenberch, Khéphren Thuram and Manu Koné to name but a few.

Szoboszlai could be perfect for the Reds because of his ability to flourish on the right, in place of an ageing Henderson and a version of Elliott who is exciting and promising but perhaps not quite ready to deliver on the biggest stage every few days, as a starlet who is still growing.

Henderson has been an incredible servant to Liverpool since he first arrived for $20m (£16m/€19m), going on to lift every trophy possible under Klopp. Meanwhile, Elliott certainly has the potential to be a long-term regular, and has already more than justified the $5.4m (£4.3m/€5.0m) compensation fee paid to Fulham. But Szoboszlai would offer something more than the $25m duo in the here and now.

The Hungarian has spent the past two years in Germany. He played on the left throughout his debut campaign but last season, he was fielded on the right for RB Leipzig. Szoboszlai was deployed as an advanced midfielder within the confines of Marco Rose’s preferred 4-2-2-2 formation.

In a sense, he’s experienced ideal preparation for the role that awaits him at Anfield. His signature would be bad news for Henderson and Elliott in their quest for minutes on the pitch but overall, Liverpool needs to improve, and fast. A deal for the in-demand Szoboszlai would be difficult to strike, but Klopp has found an ideal target and one who would address his weakest area.

The obvious way this could be managed is for the Reds to revert back to playing with a more traditional right-back if Alexander-Arnold is not in the side for whatever reason, meaning creative responsibilities would fall upon the shoulders of the collective group, rather than one orchestrator. The second strategy may involve either buying another ‘inverted full-back’ or, indeed, converting an existing player within the squad to play the role as an understudy to the West Derby-born star.

Of the options available on the market currently, Ajax’s Jurrien Timber may well be the most suitable but one cannot overlook the attributes of Liverpool academy graduate Stefan Bajčetić either, who could well represent an unorthodox solution to this conundrum. During his 19 games in all competitions last term, it was obvious that the Spanish teenager possessed a passing range that defied his tender years and an aggression when out of possession which made him a real asset before his unfortunate injury back in March.

Of course, the 18-year-old has so far only featured as a midfielder for the first team but it is worth noting that he came through the club’s academy system while playing as a center-back. In that sense, it is clear that the youngster is tactically flexible and possesses an ability to adapt to new roles in the team in order to maximize his talents.

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To further strengthen the case for Bajčetić potentially serving as Alexander-Arnold’s understudy next season, one need only look at what Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard had to say about the prospect’s game earlier this year. What is striking is that his description of the former Celta Vigo trainee’s skillset could very easily be mistaken as a summation of Alexander-Arnold’s attributes instead.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Real Madrid at Anfield back in February, he waxed lyrical about the youngster’s performances during what was an otherwise difficult period for the side. The midfield legend said: “He’s doing very well on both sides of the game, he’s shown aggression, and he’s covering the ground very well.

“He’s always looking to pass forward, he’s always looking to be positive. He can play the last pass and his maturity is beyond his years, so far. Fair play to him, he’s taking his chance.”

With Klopp’s squad requiring major surgery in multiple areas this summer, it is clear that the club’s recruitment staff will need to be selective when it comes to strengthening, with additions in midfield and at center-back expected to be the priority. In effect, therefore, Bajčetić’s emergence last season could well end up saving the club millions in the coming months.

Competition for minutes in midfield may well be fierce next season but the Spanish youth international may well be able to carve out a role for himself as an understudy to Alexander-Arnold instead. With the Europa League offering Klopp a chance to experiment next season, the upcoming campaign could well prove to be a seminal period for the likes of Bajčeti