Liverpool want deal for £45m Premier League breakout midfield star | OneFootball

Big changes are coming to Liverpool’s midfield sector this off-season.

Arne Slot has been relying on the same cast of characters for a couple of campaigns now - and is getting diminishing returns from some players in that sector.

Ryan Gravenberch has gone off the boil despite a new £277k per week contract while Alexis Mac Allister too is a long way short of his Premier League title-winning best form.

There is also significant contract uncertainty over Curtis Jones - whose current deal expires in 2027 - and if no new agreement is reached then Richard Hughes could opt to move him on.

Liverpool eye deal for Noah Sadiki

One player reported by Fichajes in Spain to be under consideration is Sunderland’s Premier League breakout star Noah Sadiki.

The Belgian-born DR Congo international, 21, joined the Black Cats from Union SG last summer and has taken the top flight by storm.

The report also names Chelsea and Manchester United as potentially interested in the midfield dynamo - who is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2030.

However it is Liverpool who lead the race for Sadiki - with the club said to be preparing a £45m offer for his services.

“Liverpool have set their sights firmly on Sunderland's new sensation, the young Belgian-Congolese midfielder Noah Sadiki, following his impressive breakthrough into the English top flight,” the report reads.

Noah Sadiki: Situation summary

Noah Sadiki has rapidly become a cornerstone of Sunderland’s midfield, profiling as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic young ball-winners.

The 21-year-old DR Congo international, born in Brussels in December 2004, came through Anderlecht and Union Saint-Gilloise before joining Sunderland in summer 2025 for an initial €17m plus up to €3.5m in bonuses, signing a five-year deal to 2030.

A 1.73m right-footed central midfielder, he combines explosive ball-carrying with excellent control under pressure, secure short passing and the ability to switch play, while his low centre of gravity and power make him outstanding in ground duels and pressing.

His primary role is to break up play and drive Sunderland forward rather than provide heavy final-third output, though he is starting to add more line-breaking passes into his game.

Contractually, Sunderland are protected by that 2030 deal and see Sadiki as a long-term pillar, meaning any suitor would need to pay well above the roughly €20m outlay to tempt them, especially if he maintains his current trajectory towards “big six” level.