Liverpool have three midfielders out of contract at the end of the 2022-23 season, as James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will see their contracts expire. Milner is the only member of the trio who has made a significant number of starts this season while Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have spent the majority of the campaign out with injuries.
Liverpool’s need to reshape the midfield hasn’t decreased. The Reds are entering a rebuilding phase and could turn to the transfer window in January to add to the squad. One name that continues to be mentioned with a transfer to Liverpool is RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer.
Jurgen Klopp has several top players including Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Austrian is out of contract with RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023. RB Leipzig are set on losing the player and could sell Laimer in January if a deal is worthwhile. Laimer was rumoured as a potential signing near the end of the summer transfer window, but a deal was never completed.
Although Leipzig wanted to sell Laimer to Liverpool in August, the player blocked any transfer from occurring. It is believed Laimer is holding out to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer. However, he already saw a move to the Bavarians fall through.
The 25-year-old joined Leipzig in 2017 and has been a constant in the defensive midfield position. Injuries have plagued Laimer over the last few seasons and he has made just four Bundesliga appearances before the World Cup break.
Laimer is currently rehabbing a ligament tear and won’t return to action until January when the Bundesliga’s hiatus ends. The defensive midfielder joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2017 for just €7 million. Transfermarkt currently values Laimer at €28m. Liverpool could negotiate a lower price for the midfielder or even swap a player for Laimer.
Keita joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2017 with him officially joining the club in 2018. The Reds paid £52m for Keita but the midfielder has not played regularly since arriving at Anfield. Keita’s contract will end in the summer which means Liverpool could attempt to swap the underachieving player for Laimer.
Laimer isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool is chasing. Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans is back on the Anfield radar. Tielemans is also out of contact in the summer of 2023. Leicester City were unable to sign players in the offseason due to a lack of transfer funds.
Leicester City may be forced to sell Tielemans to provide manager Brendan Rodgers with transfer money to rebuild the squad. The Foxes have made it clear they will let Tielemans leave for free rather than sell to a Premier League rival. Liverpool may have to wait until the offseason to land Tielemans. However, the competition for the midfielder’s signature, just like Laimer’s, will increase in the offseason.
