Report: Liverpool considering move to sign Premier League midfielder | OneFootball

Liverpool Midfield Planning Intensifies as Baleba Signals Readiness

Liverpool’s recruitment focus is quietly sharpening and the midfield conversation is once again front and centre. Credit to Anfield Watch, whose original report outlines why this area of the squad remains a live concern despite the apparent depth available to Arne Slot.

Slot inherited options, but the season has exposed limits. Alexis Mac Allister has endured spells where rhythm and influence dipped. Ryan Gravenberch has carried a heavy physical burden with little respite. Dominik Szoboszlai’s relentless output has bordered on unsustainable. As one line in the original article notes, “Dominik Szoboszlai cannot be trusted to continue to perform at 110% or even 120%, sooner or later that will break him.”

Curtis Jones offers reliability, but Wataru Endo’s injury has stripped away experience and physical security. That leaves Trey Nyoni as the only true alternative, an unfair expectation for a young player. Recent absences have limited Slot’s ability to change games from the bench, something that quietly undermines his tactical ideals.

Slot’s System Demands Energy and Dynamism

Slot’s approach relies on constant movement and vertical intensity. As Anfield Watch states, “In order for Arne Slot’s system to be successful, Liverpool need more dynamism and running in the middle of the park.” Too often this season, it has felt like Szoboszlai alone has been tasked with carrying the engine.

Baleba Emerges Again on Liverpool Radar

That context explains why Carlos Baleba has re-emerged as a serious consideration. Anfield Watch report that Liverpool are long-term admirers, having monitored him closely when he nearly joined Manchester United in the summer. “The Reds were ready to strike with an offer of their own.”

Baleba’s club form at Brighton dipped, fuelling claims he had been “found-out” in the Premier League. The article challenges that narrative directly, suggesting his disappointment at missing a dream transfer weighed heavily on performances.

AFCON Performances Reinforce His Case

At the African Cup of Nations, Baleba delivered a sharp rebuttal. “In both of Cameroon’s matches, he was Baleba of old, dictating the game and showing his dynamism and intelligence.” The conclusion drawn is clear, his club-level struggles are temporary, not terminal.

As Anfield Watch conclude, “Baleba’s recent performances and actions at AFCON simply just confirm that he’s ready to make that massive move in his career.” For Liverpool, this looks less like speculation and more like timing aligning with need.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a supporter’s perspective, this report rings uncomfortably true. Liverpool fans have watched games where the midfield fades late on, not through lack of quality but lack of legs. Szoboszlai covering every blade of grass is thrilling, but it also feels like a warning sign.

Baleba makes sense because he solves multiple problems at once. He brings ball-carrying, defensive aggression and recovery speed, traits Slot’s system demands. More importantly, he allows rotation without a dramatic drop-off. That is how elite sides sustain title challenges.

There is also a psychological edge. A player who feels ready for the next step often plays with urgency and purpose. Baleba’s AFCON displays suggest hunger rather than complacency. Liverpool have thrived when signing players at that exact moment in their development curve.