Liverpool told to make move for 'wonderful' star who is a carbon copy of Steven Gerrard | OneFootball

Liverpool's first-team squad is set to change in the summer.

The Reds already welcomed several new faces to their ranks during the last summer transfer window but, once again, it feels like the Anfield outfit have fallen behind their rivals.

They're currently sitting outside of the Champions League spots and, unless they win the tournament, it feels unlikely that the club will qualify for it next term.

This is a clear sign of how unprepared Liverpool were to try and retain their Premier League title in the 2025-26 season and why some new players need to be brought in during the 2026-27 summer transfer window.

Without reinforcement across the pitch, it's hard to see how the Anfield outfit wouldn't do even worse than they did this term, which, for a team of their quality, would be a travesty.

Several players have already been linked with a Liverpool move but now, the club are being urged by one of their former players to go all in for a "wonderful" ace.

Danny Murphy urges Liverpool to make a move for Federico Valverde

On paper, Liverpool's midfield is the most stacked area among their ranks.

Players such as Curtis Jones and Trey Nyoni are hardly getting a look in due to the sheer quality of their teammates.

However, this amount of depth hasn't stopped midfielders from being linked with an Anfield switch and now, former Liverpool ace Danny Murphy is urging Arne Slot and Richard Hughes to make a move for Real Madrid's Federico Valverde.

In an interview with TEAMtalk, the former Liverpool star shared why he thinks Valverde would be a perfect fit for Liverpool.

"Call me old fashioned, but I’d be going for someone in the middle of the pitch who is a leader," he said.

"Someone everyone can look up to. A bit like Szoboszlai has done this season.

"I always look at Federico Valverde at Madrid. If they could get him, he’s everything. He’s as near to Gerrard as I’ve seen – he’s got wonderful athleticism and he can do everything.

"He’s not as good as Gerrard, but he’s a phenomenal player.

"They might not be able to get him out, but someone like that who can walk through the door and grasp it. There’s no risk with a signing like that, even if it costs £100 million."

Liverpool must make sure their next few signings improve their starting XI

Liverpool have a lot of work to do this summer.

Whether that be looking for a new manager or signing players who actually improve their ranks, after the disappointment of this season, changes need to be made.

Several players such as Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Yan Diomande and Mateus Mane have all been linked with an Anfield switch.

And, while all of the players are extremely talented, Hughes and Slot must weigh up whether they actually improve the standard of their team.

Because, if the Reds want to try and win the Premier League and the Champions League next season, the players that get signed need to be better than those among their ranks at the moment.

Otherwise, they'll just be chucking money at their squad for no reason.

but, with how important he is to Real Madrid, his transfer feels more like a fantasy than anything else.

Here's hoping that the club have a clear plan in place ahead of the summer transfer window, otherwise, it could be curtains for Slot.