Liverpool urged to move for impressive World Cup midfielder | OneFootball

Felix Nmecha and Liverpool, Why Robert Huth’s Verdict Makes Sense for Andoni Iraola

Liverpool have started the Andoni Iraola era with movement at the back and in attack, but midfield remains the area that still feels unresolved. That is why the latest comments from Robert Huth, speaking to Empire of the Kop, land with a bit of weight. When a former Premier League winner points to a player as a natural fit for the demands of this new side, it is worth paying attention.

The player in question is Felix Nmecha, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder who has already been linked with Liverpool, along with both Manchester clubs. Huth’s case is simple and compelling. “Felix Nmecha was one of the players that kind of stood out in the Germany team. He performed well; he kept winning the ball. I think he would suit Liverpool with Iraola as manager.

“I know how he likes the fast-flowing football, the quick turnaround, winning the ball high. Nmecha’s been doing that in the World Cup, so whether they go for it or not, who knows, but he certainly’s got a good ability.”

Andoni Iraola needs midfield bite

This is where the conversation gets interesting. Iraola’s football demands legs, aggression and clarity. Midfielders in his system cannot drift through matches. They have to sense danger early, spring forward quickly and suffocate opponents before attacks can breathe. If Liverpool are going to fully embrace that approach, they need at least one midfielder with a real appetite for regaining possession high up the pitch.

Nmecha looks like that sort of footballer. His numbers from the 2025/26 campaign back up the idea that he can hunt the ball and disrupt teams before they settle. Averaging 4.49 ball recoveries per Bundesliga match and posting strong figures for regaining possession in the final third suggests a player who reads pressing triggers well and has the engine to act on them.

Felix Nmecha could balance Liverpool

There is another reason the link makes sense. Liverpool already have technicians in midfield. Ryan Gravenberch can carry the ball and break lines. Alexis Mac Allister can dictate rhythm and bring calm in possession. What the side occasionally lacks is a bit of steel, a midfielder who gives the rest permission to play by doing some of the less glamorous work.

Nmecha is not a classic number six, and that matters. Liverpool do not necessarily need another static holder. They need mobility, pressure and support around the ball. In that sense, the Dortmund man could offer balance rather than simply filling a position on a teamsheet.

Transfer fee may test Liverpool resolve

Of course, all of this comes with a price. Reports have suggested that Nmecha has an €80m, £68.2m, release clause that becomes active next year, while Dortmund could seek around €100m, £85.3m, this summer. That is a serious outlay for a midfielder who, while talented, is not yet in the bracket of guaranteed elite certainty.

That is where Liverpool’s recruitment team earn their keep. They must decide whether this is the right profile at the wrong price, or the right player at the right moment. Huth’s verdict is persuasive because it ties the player’s strengths directly to the manager’s ideas. In the end, that is what matters most. Recruitment should serve the football. On Nmecha, you can certainly see the fit.

Exactly what Liverpool need

The best sides have variety, and right now Liverpool could do with a player who brings edge, intensity and a willingness to do the dirty work without fuss.

Nmecha sounds like he fits that description. The biggest attraction is how naturally he appears to suit Iraola’s game. Winning the ball high, turning play over quickly and keeping pressure on the opposition are not optional extras under this head coach. They are the foundation. If Huth has spotted that in Nmecha, plenty of fans will too.

The concern is obvious, the money. £85.3m is enormous, and supporters are entitled to wonder whether there is better value elsewhere. Liverpool have got plenty right in the market over the years, but every big fee carries risk. For that level of investment, you want a player who can become central to the side for years.

Still, in football terms, this one stacks up. If the club genuinely believe Nmecha can raise the level of the press and give more freedom to those around him, then there is a strong argument for pushing hard. Liverpool need a midfield that can fight, run and think quickly. On paper at least, he looks like a very good answer.