Arne Slot's surprising plan to REPLACE Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool last had a midfield shakeup in 2023 when Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita all left the club.

Meanwhile, new signings that year included Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo. Those four - along with Curtis Jones - have formed the basis of Arne Slot’s midfield options this season.

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Amid all the transfer rumours around Liverpool ahead of the summer window opening, midfield has been one area that has perhaps been underreported.

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Several links exist to left-backs and centre-forwards and maybe there's an assumption that the club will persist with their midfield options again next term.

But the gruelling season has proven that additional high-quality players will be required.

On Sunday against Chelsea, it was the first time this season in the league that Slot started a midfielder other than Gravenberch - Mac Allister - Szoboszlai - Jones with Endo coming into the lineup.

Liverpool seeking Frenkie de Jong deal

Gravenberch in particular has looked sapped of energy during the latter half of the season and if the right deal came available it would be prudent to sign an alternate.

That’s why recent transfer links in Spain are intriguing. It’s been claimed that Liverpool are not only lining up a new midfielder, but one who can REPLACE Gravenberch at the base of midfield.

Fichajes is reporting that Arne Slot has identified Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong as a €40 million summer arrival. The 27-year-old only has one year left to run on his Barca contract and he could be made available for transfer this summer.

“The Anfield side is preparing a €40 million offer to convince FC Barcelona to part ways with one of its technical pillars,” a report reads.

“The English club knows that the upcoming campaign will demand an even higher level, especially with direct rivals like Arsenal and Manchester City aggressively strengthening their squad.

In this context, the addition of De Jong would be strategic, not only for his individual quality, but also for his ability to coordinate the game alongside names like Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.”

Could Gravenberch and De Jong share duties?

This season De Jong has started only seven times in LaLiga but has been a mainstay of Barca’s campaigns in the Copa Del Rey and Champions League.

It would be a surprise to see Slot move on so quickly from Gravenberch, having transformed him into one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.

This however could be one of the “opportunistic” signings that Richard Hughes favours - with De Jong’s world-class credentials well-established throughout his time at Barca and previously at Ajax.

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There remains the possibility that both Dutchmen share the defensive midfield duties, while De Jong can also play further forward.

He is currently reported to earn in excess of €300,000 per week at Camp Nou and would immediately be among Liverpool's top earners if he arrived.