5 alternatives to Saul Niguez for Liverpool

3. Youri Tielemans, Leicester City

Youri Tielemans.

The Belgian has had an outstanding season at Leicester City, made memorable by one of the FA Cup final's greatest long range goals, where he evoked a Gerrard-like ability to make a clean strike of a football.

The 24-year-old has for long been recognized as a prodigious talent who is now growing into the role of a midfield general at Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City. He is a key component of the former Liverpool manager's team that employs a cultured short passing style of play.

On the defensive front, he averages 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, proving more than capable of adding discipline to the defensive side of his game. The thought of a Tielemans and Thiago midfield duo taking control of a game would leave many a Liverpool fan salivating, and perhaps most importantly fit into Jurgen Klopp's evolving idea of a possession-based Gegenpressing game.

2. Renato Sanches, Lille

Renato Sanches.

The 24-year-old former Golden boy winner Sanches has enjoyed a recent unexpected career renaissance. An eye-catching Euro 2020 campaign for Portugal was the cherry atop a Ligue 1 winning season with Lille, where they upset heavyweights PSG. His playing style, focused on skilled ball retention, physical strength and stamina, would make him an identical replacement to Gini Wijnaldum.

The big move to Bayern Munich proved to scupper the then 18-year-old's growth, giving rise to concerns as to whether he would ever find his footing at a top club. However, the now experienced Sanches would relish a return to the Premier League to prove his doubters wrong.

1. Nicolo Barella, Inter Milan

Italy v England - UEFA Euro 2020: Final

Fleet-footed Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella has had an outstanding season for both club and country, playing a key role in winning the Serie A as well as the Euro 2020 crown. Astute at breaking up play, pressing high and dictating the tempo, the all-action box-to-box midfielder is one of world football's premier midfielders.

In a Liverpool team that has the likes of Henderson, Thiago, Fabhino and Naby Keita, Barella could serve as the perfect foil to create space and control football games over a grueling season.

From a technical perspective, Inter Milan's well-documented financial struggles would leave them open to accepting a competitive bid from Liverpool.

🥉· Liverpool are 'ready to present an offer of €70m’ to Inter Milan for Nicolo Barella. ‘Such a figure would put Inter in crisis’ regarding the transfer. Source: @SportRepubblica Country: Italy 🇮🇹

— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) July 14, 2021