Liverpool receive GREEN light to replace star with Thiago regen | OneFootball

Liverpool's recent actions suggest that a midfield shake-up could be on the horizon.

Reports are linking the club with high-value youngsters such as Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, while the Reds are looking to tie down Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the near future.

That leaves two of Liverpool's main midfielders quite isolated. Curtis Jones is out of contract in 2027, while Alexis Mac Allister is out of contract in 2028 - and is currently heavily favoured by Real Madrid.

While it's entirely plausible that the Reds might want to switch things up a little, it might not be wise to spend £100m on a player, so soon after the two record-breaking transfers of last summer. One player who'd be perfect for Slot's system is said to be assessing his future on a 'year-by-year' basis.

Tonali to Liverpool a possibility?

Newcastle won't exactly be jumping at the chance of letting the Italian star go, but Sandro Tonali might start to look for a change of scenery at the end of the season, if the Magpies fail to qualify for next season's Champions League and the 25-year-old will not be short of potential suitors.

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One of the clubs that could look at him is Liverpool, not least because of how dynamic and robust he's proven he can be in midfield. Tonali's profile is perfect for Arne Slot's workman-like No. 8 role.

In January, he was ranked inside the top four Premier League players for distance covered, running 12.2km per 90 minutes on the field, which would put him alongside Liverpool's most physical players.

At Newcastle, he players in a holding role, although he was often given the freedom to roam across the pitch, similar to how Slot utilises his midfielders. It doesn't take a genius to see how he'd fit in.

Mac Allister and Jones are currently Gravenberch's most regular partners in the double-pivot, with Szoboszlai being used in a more free role - be it in attacking midfield or occasionally at right-back.

If one of the Argentinian or the Englishman were to leave, or even if Slot just wanted to bolster his midfield options, Tonali would surely feature high on Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards' shortlist.

Even though the Italian is contracted until 2029, with an option to add an additional year to his deal, per Sky Sports' Keith Downie, it's been stressed that he's viewing his future on a 'year-by-year' basis, which more than opens the door for Liverpool to make him a tempting offer in the near future.

Furthermore, we've seen Tonali relate to the Reds before, as he said in 2023 that he is 'inspired by Thiago Alcantara' - a player that Liverpool fans will never forget. He was a magician on the pitch, using his paintbrush to deliver technical masterclasses week on week. The Brazilian left Anfield in 2024, and there's more than enough demand for a player of his calibre to return to Merseyside.