Liverpool's secret weapon: Midfielder is our very own Vitinha

If reports are to be believed then Liverpool have got their eye on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha.

Fresh from an appearance on the Ballon d’Or podium, the Portugal international is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2029.

Therefore it would take a mammoth bid to take the playmaker out of Paris and some reports suggest that fee could be as high as €150m.

It’s no secret that Liverpool need to freshen up the midfield. But the solution to their problems in the middle third - at least in the short-term can come in-house.

Because Liverpool currently have a midfielder going VERY close to Vitinha’s levels in the Champions League - at least according to the latest Opta data.

Curtis Jones matches Vitinha and FDJ

Vitinha has completed 92.4 percent of his passes under high-intensity pressure in the Champions League this season. That is second only to Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona (92.8) among players with more than 100 passes attempted.

And third? Curtis Jones has completed 115 of his 125 passes made under high-intensity pressure for a total of 92 percent.

He has been Liverpool’s secret weapon in Europe this season - putting in arguably a man-of-the-match display away to Inter at San Siro in midweek.

Opta clocked the 24-year-old as completing 100 percent of his dribbles (3/3), and the England international also led the way for completed passes with 67/70.

Jones also made the most line-breaking passes with 14 and broke the opposition defensive line three times.

Curtis Jones has been outstanding

Liverpool are at a low ebb currently and these numbers are certainly to be cherished in difficult times.

Jones looks set to become the chief beneficiary of Arne Slot’s recent move to a so-called midfield diamond - appearing the pockets near Milos Kerkez and Ryan Gravenberch on the left side.

It suits him perfectly - although he has also filled in at right-back and No8 at times this season.

He has been able to sneak in at times to a left-sided centre-back role in order to get the team progressing forward. That in turn has allowed the left-back the time and space required further up the pitch.

Jones’ progressive passing is unmatched in Europe’s top-five leagues according to the data - with his vertical passing being a unique skillset in this Liverpool squad.

Curtis Jones steps up

And when the Reds were beaten and downcast following the 4-1 Anfield hammering by PSV it was Jones who fronted up and took responsibility in the media for the horror show.

That demonstrated leadership - hinting that Jones could well become captain material when it comes time to say goodbye to Virgil van Dijk.

Time for a new Jones contract

First though and a new contract is in order.

We are led to believe that Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai - both expiring in 2028 - are ahead of the homegrown schemer in the contract pecking order.

With Jones’ terms expiring in 2027 the club could really do with sitting down and hashing out a deal before it’s too late.

Jones has got the personality to star in this Liverpool midfield and Slot needs to add to his FOUR Premier League starts starting this weekend versus Brighton.

So forget about signing Vitinha. We've already got our own version.

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