Liverpool recently completed the signing of Hungarian attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. The Merseyside club triggered his £60 million release clause and he has signed a five-year contract with The Reds.
It is another signing where Liverpool appear to have captured a highly-rated player, for a reasonable price, who can still improve considerably. They did the same with Mo Salah from AS Roma for £38 million and Andy Robertson from Hull City for £8 million and will hope Szoboszlai can have a similarly positive trajectory.
Jörg Schmadtke, the club’s sporting director who joined at the end of May, seems to have made an instant impact in his new role. Shortly after Schmadtke arrived a deal for Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister was announced and after completing the signing of the World Cup winner, his attention moved swiftly to completing the signing of RB Leipzig’s Szoboszlai.
The role for the talented Hungarian in Liverpool’s midfield is clear to see. With the departure of James Milner to Brighton and Fabio Carvalho to RB Leipzig on loan, there should be a slot for Szoboszlai to fill immediately in the starting XI.
Jordan Henderson, at 33 years-old, meanwhile, is no longer a guaranteed starter and manager Jürgen Klopp may choose to deploy the Englishman’s experience more tactically throughout the forthcoming campaign, in which Liverpool will be playing Europa League football.
Szoboszlai’s creativity and hard-working attitude should help to drive Liverpool forward and will bring more of an attacking threat to Klopp’s team.
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol stated on ESPN FC, “I don’t see why he doesn’t go into the starting team straight away”, with the former Red clearly believing their new signing is good enough to be impacting games instantly.
“If we’re talking about the majority of so called experts, we all believe he is going to get better. So this is a great signing. I don’t see who is going to be ahead of him or why they should be ahead of him,” Nicol added.
The new number eight will predominantly be played in the middle of the pitch, however he could be used out wide if he is needed to cover on the wing, given his versatility. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister could also both play further forward in front of a holding midfielder, such as Fabinho.
A lethal-threat from set-pieces will help strengthen Liverpool, as the Hungarian is able to find either the back of the net or a teammate when he stands over a free-kick. Szoboszlai can also score with either foot. Whilst most of his goals have come with his right, he can find a goal or two on his left.
His awareness and vision to pick out a teammate are brilliant quality as well, as seen when he linked up so effectively with Chelsea’s new signing Christopher Nkunku multiple times at Leipzig last season.
Liverpool’s perceived lack of quality in midfield at the end of the season was something many fans were pointing out, with Thiago being out injured, and Henderson and Fabinho not on top form.
Rebuilding in midfield was never going to be easy but Klopp and his colleagues appear to have done very well on that front so far this summer.
With former Liverpool target Jude Bellingham signing for Real Madrid, the Anfield hierarchy turned to other options. They have signed two highly rated midfielders with almost two months of the transfer window still to run.
Signing Bellingham was not financially viable but being able to sign two or three midfielders for the price of the Englishman looks be smart business for the Merseysiders.
There are rumours that Klopp and his directors are also trying to complete a deal for Romeo Lavia from recently-relegated Southampton. The defensive midfielder impressed in a struggling team last season and Liverpool are believed to be at the front of the queue for his signature. A £50 million deal is being reported in the press and Lavia would be another statement signing for the 19-time champions.
