Liverpool may forget Ederson with £60m 'Rolls-Royce' bid

The flow of summer transfer talk is beginning to flow apace, but Liverpool are not yet in the water as Arne Slot adapts to his role as Anfield head coach and FSG lead the way in identifying targets capable of making a real impact.

In fairness, Liverpool have been going about their business in private, often escaping Fabrizio Romano's all-seeing eye before the news hits the room like a steam engine, sending the Reds faithful into immediate overdrive.

So, patience. Let's breathe, have a seat. Michael Edwards is a professional and no doubt has some exciting things planned this summer. So when reports from France this week suggested Liverpool were close to agreeing a deal with Atalanta for Ederson, the hard-hitting midfielder, to be dismissed by the upright James Pearce, disappointment should be set aside.

Liverpool, it should be known, are fully committed to developing the Slot team before the start of the 2024/25 campaign, with a defender, a midfielder and a wide striker all needed, at least one of whom may fall into the 'tent' category.

Ederson is a good player, who played a big part in winning the Europa League, but Liverpool are looking for a player who will dominate for some years, and it seems that they are thinking about taking a talented young player who can fulfill that purpose.

Liverpool play in midfield

According to Football Insider, Edwards and Liverpool's transfer squad have held internal discussions about Alan Varela as they weigh up a bid for the 22-year-old Porto star.

The Reds signed Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £16m last summer but there is a need for a long-term star at No. 6 and Varela will fit the bill.

However, with a £60m buyout clause in his contract, the Argentine will take a big part in Liverpool's summer battle chest – let's see if it's worth the effort…

Alan Varela's season by the numbers

Endo, to his credit, has done an impressive job since his surprise move to Merseyside, playing 44 times in all competitions, winning Liverpool's Player of the Month award and being hailed as a “machine” and “exceptional football genius” recently. left manager Jurgen Klopp.

But he has his limitations. 31 years, Endo is not a long term option. He is active and alert but lacks the mobility and sheer athleticism that the likes of Rodri and Declan Rice boast.

Varela, despite sitting out the start of his season but yet to move into Europe's top five leagues, has been brilliant in Sergio Conceicao's squad, playing 44 times since joining Boca Juniors a year ago and starting all eight of Porto's games. Champions League games, they are leading in two legs as they were badly defeated on penalties against Arsenal in the last 16.

His ability to dictate the tempo and flow in the center of the park is one of his most outstanding qualities, and, in addition, his confident style, the tiger passed the test against Arsenal at the beginning of 2024, holding his own and impressing with his footballing and defensive strength. against a fearsome Gunners side.

He is also a world-class player, ranking in the middle 8% of players in divisions such as Liga Portugal for pass completion and the top 5% for 90 passes, according to FBref.

Despite his deep-lying role, he is creative and eager to find constantly improving peers, completing 90% of his passes in the Portuguese top flight this season but also creating five big chances and an average of one key pass per game, according to Sofascore.

It is called “The Rolls-Royce of sportsman“With talent scout Jacek Kulig while cutting his teeth in his native South America, the 5 foot 10 star would be a credit to Liverpool's first team, and would certainly be an option ahead of Ederson.

Why Varela would be perfect for Arne Slot

Ederson played a key role in Atalanta's demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in the Conference League final, ending Xabi Alonso's side's hopes of football immortality with an unbeaten, three-win campaign.

The 24-year-old Brazilian has made 2.3 tackles and won 5.5 duels on average in Serie A this season but has completed 84% of his passes and that's while making a key pass once every two games.

That's part of Varela's effect, and with Ederson two years older than the Argentine, he may have to go for a player with a higher ceiling, especially as Endo and Mac Allister could take the load off the midfield next season. .

One of the main reasons that Slot was chosen to take over from Klopp was his excellent pressing style and managerial style, a hybrid of the German and Pep Guardiola.

But this style of front foot will be blocked by Endo. It's not his fault, the Japanese star is not the right number 6 to charge the newly arrived Anfield system.

Mats Wieffer, a central midfielder for Feyenoord who has also been a central midfielder for Slot the past few years, isn't the best passer in the game but he ranks in the top 10 percent of his peers across teams like the Dutch Eredivisie in passes attempted, top 6. -% of continuous passes and a top 11% of 90 passes.

Slot needs energy and needs excitement, and in a talented young player in Varela, he would get what he wants.