Liverpool confirm surprise midfield transfer | OneFootball

Liverpool have confirmed a surprise transfer.

Things are finally starting to kick into gear in the market for the Reds. It's been a messy window so far and pretty fruitless as well.

This may be Richard Hughes' final window in charge of Liverpool, as a move to Al Hilal beckons and his legacy is definitely on the line. Sure, Hughes delivered last summer with big money signings but he also created an imbalance in the squad that cost Arne Slot his job.

Now Andoni Iraola is in charge and his squad is again very thin, it's probably weakened since last season considering several key players have already left.

At the start of the summer Liverpool fans had big expectations for marquee names to arrive and replace the likes of Mo Salah and Andy Robertson.

But none of that has happened. We are creeping into August - the last month of the transfer window and still Victor Munoz is the only signing.

Sure Liverpool have now accelerated on the Bradley Barcola front. But signing a winger is not the only area where Liverpool have to bring in new recruits.

Right now the only fit centre-backs at the club are Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who are 18-year-olds with barely any experience in senior football.

The right-back situation is a mess, too. Liverpool are yet to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.

There's the midfield, too. Liverpool looked well stocked in that department. However, that could all change very quickly. Alexis Mac Allister is highly sought after and negotiations with the Argentina have ceased over a new contract.

Curtis Jones has just one year left on his contract and he very much looks certain to be on his way out of Liverpool, unless somehow Iraola can convince him otherwise.

The truth is Liverpool still haven't really replaced Fabinho since he left the club in 2023. They tried to several times with Moises Caicedo for example and others.

Ryan Gravenberch has become a makeshift no.6 but whether that is truly his best role and whether Liverpool need a true no.6 is up for debate.

In light of this, Liverpool are definitely in the market for a midfielder. Adam Wharton has been touted about, and there are others like Lamine Camara and Mamadou Sangare, who have also been linked in the past.

Liverpool may even opt for a surprise option. In the same vein as Munoz, whose transfer came out of nowhere and was wrapped up in the matters of hours.

One thing for certain is that one midfielder will not be part of Iraola's plans for any longer.

It was a surprise to see Tommy Piling not being involved in the club's pre-season tour to the United States.

The youngster has been one of Liverpool's best players at U21 level and has regularly been involved in first-team training and even first-team squads - especially last season.

However, Piling is now set for a surprise move. The reason for his omission from the tour to the United States has now become clear.

Liverpool confirmed that they have agreed for Piling to join Slovakian side MFK Zemplin Michalovce on a permanent deal.

This is a surprise, there aren't many players who end-up moving from Liverpool to Slovakia.

The Slovakian side compete in the top flight and finished 5th in the Slovak First Division last season, narrowly missing out on European football.

They do have a few English-born players in the squad, but Piling's move is definitely a left field one and one we did not expect.

Liverpool will wish him well, and hope he can kick-start his senior career in an environment where he is much more likely to play regular first-team football.