Midfielder agrees five year deal to sign for Liverpool | OneFootball

An exciting midfielder has agreed a five year deal to sign for Liverpool.

The Reds are expected to put a massive emphasis on midfield reinforcements this summer, especially with a few uncertainties starting to build around some important players in that area of the squad.

Curtis Jones is probably the biggest question mark right now. His contract is entering its final year and there hasn’t been much sign of progress over a new deal, which has naturally sparked plenty of speculation about his future.

Because of that, there’s a growing feeling Liverpool could be willing to let him move on if the right opportunity comes along.

The situation has also forced the club to think more carefully about its long-term midfield plans. Keeping stability in that part of the team is becoming a major priority heading into the summer window.

There’s also outside interest in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, despite both players still being under contract until 2028. Neither is expected to leave anytime soon, but Liverpool know top European clubs are keeping a close eye on them.

The two situations aren’t exactly the same, though.

Szoboszlai’s future actually looks pretty positive at the moment. Talks with the club are believed to be heading in the right direction, and there’s increasing confidence that Liverpool will eventually get an agreement sorted to keep him at Anfield for the long term.

By contrast, talks involving Alexis Mac Allister have reportedly slowed in recent months, introducing a degree of uncertainty over his longer-term intentions despite his importance to the side.

And it looks like Liverpool are preparing for the future and a potential move to replace Mac Allister.

What Liverpool's next steps will remains to be seen. Whether they will actually allow Mac Allister to depart this summer is moot. There would have to be a crazy offer for his services if Liverpool were to even consider a move for the Argentine, who has been playing a key role for Arne Slot's side and is a regular starter for the team when fit.

But long-term, given the fact that his contract is only until 2028, Liverpool are going to have to think about alternative solutions.

The Reds know Mac Allister isn't getting any younger. He's already going to be 28-years-old later this year, in two years he will be 30-years-old and Liverpool just don't tend to give out long-term deals to players of that age profile.

Realistically speaking this summer is the last big summer when Liverpool could sell him for a big fee.

Long-term, Liverpool are also making plans to bring in an exciting South American who could fill Mac Allister's shoes very soon, and who has agreed a mega deal with the club.

According to Florian Plettenberg on Twitter, Samuel Martinez will sign a five year deal with Liverpool before embarking on a Visa application and undergoing a medical.

He won't be able to join the Reds until the summer of 2027. At which point, Plettenberg claims the plan for him will be to join up with the first-team for pre-season before playing a key role for the club's U21 and U19 sides in the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League.

Martinez has been likened to Kaka. He helped Colombia win the U17 Copa America, which is where he alerted the attention of the club's scouts.

He can be deployed as a no.8 or no.10 and he has the same sort of gait and ability to carry the ball forward with ease as Kaka.

He averaged 7.23 dribbles per 90 minutes at the U17 CONMEBOL and completed 62.5% of his attempts.

He also averaged 3.25 progressive runs per 90, which was the second highest among midfielders.

Martinez is a very creative player and loves to make an impact around the edge of the penalty area. Standing at 1.84 metres, he is already quite tall and there is a belief that he could become a no.8 rather than a no.10 in the future.

His defensive work-rate is top notch, he averaged over seven defensive duels per 90 minutes in the U17 Copa America and won close to 60% of them.

It's that movement and his brilliant footballing IQ that will have appealed to Liverpool. Long-term he could definitely replace Liverpool in the team, and that is what the Reds are clearly planning for given the long-term contract he has just agreed to sign.