Liverpool could repeat Robertson & Wijnaldum transfer trick this summer to blow fans away again – opinion

It’s common in high-level football that players from teams who suffer relegation will switch clubs so they don’t drop down a level themselves, and it’s a practice from which Liverpool have benefitted in recent years.

In 2016 they signed Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle after the Magpies dropped out of the Premier League, repeating the trick a year later when they recruited Andy Robertson from Hull City.

Both players went on to become stalwarts during the most successful years of Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Anfield, with the Dutch midfielder serving the Reds for five seasons and the Scottish left-back embarking on his seventh campaign on Merseyside in a couple of months’ time.

The demise of teams in England and across Europe could see top-flight clubs cherry-pick their prized assets, and here are seven players from recently relegated sides that Liverpool could potentially consider luring to Anfield and hopefully blowing fans away like the aforementioned duo have done.

Romeo Lavia

The Southampton midfielder is arguably the likeliest player from a relegated side to join the Reds, amid a claim from Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri on Monday that Klopp’s team are in a two-horse race with Chelsea to land the 19-year-old.

He’s been backed to become a ‘top player’ by international teammate Kevin De Bruyne (Play Sports, via Hampshire Live), while only one Liverpool player exceeded his average of 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League this season (WhoScored).

He could therefore add steel to LFC’s midfield, although it seems from Tavolieri’s update that Stamford Bridge is his most probable destination as things stand.

Armel Bella-Kotchap

The Saints defender was loosely linked with Liverpool by Fichajes last autumn, with Klopp believed to be an ‘admirer of his game’ and a potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.

A few weeks ago, transfer insider Dean Jones talked up the possibility of the Reds renewing that interest in the Germany centre-back over the summer (via GIVEMESPORT), in the wake of a campaign in which the 21-year-old made an impression at St Mary’s despite his team’s overall woes.

As highlighted by FBref, Bella-Kotchap can excel both in and out of possession, ranking among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe’s five main leagues for assists (0.1) and interceptions (2.11) per game.

Valued at €22.4m (£19.3m) by Football Transfers, he could be a smart and economical defensive option to contemplate if Klopp wishes to reinforce his centre-back ranks.

James Ward-Prowse

The third and final Southampton player on our list, Liverpool are believed to have sent scouts to watch the 28-year-old earlier this year (Football Insider).

Renowned for his set-piece prowess and extraordinary dedication to his profession, the midfielder would seem the archetypal player the Reds should pursue – experienced in the Premier League (343 appearances), able to make his mark (49 top-flight goals), still in the prime of his career and a natural leader.

James Maddison

Not even the Leicester playmaker’s 10 goals and nine assists were enough to keep his team in the Premier League for a 10th successive season, and it seems highly improbable that a player hoping to nail down a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad will stick around in the Championship.

Liverpool are believed to have contacted the Foxes a couple of months ago about a possible move for the 26-year-old (90min), while more recently Graeme Bailey told TEAMtalk that a potential swoop by the Merseysiders couldn’t be ruled out.

Youri Tielemans

The hero of Leicester’s 2021 FA Cup triumph wouldn’t even make a dent in Liverpool’s transfer budget, as he’s now a free agent, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano last week.

James Pearce recently told the Walk On Podcast that there’s a ‘possibility’ of the Reds moving for the Belgian, while Steve Kay reported for Football Transfers that Klopp apparently likes the 26-year-old’s ability to cover numerous midfield positions.

LFC could also be able to reasonably offer him an increase on his £35,000-a-week earnings without upsetting their existing wage structure (FBref), and Tielemans has several campaigns of Champions League and Europa League football to his name.

Jack Harrison

There are no live transfer links involving Liverpool and the Leeds United winger, nor have any come to light in recent months, so in truth it seems highly unlikely that the Reds would go for the 26-year-old.

Nonetheless, if they were to pluck a player from the relegated squad at Elland Road, the Stoke-on-Trent native would seem the likeliest pick.

Ivan Fresneda

It’s not just the relegated trio in the Premier League that Liverpool could seek to raid this summer – they could also look towards the major divisions from mainland Europe.

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