Liverpool are looking to step up their activities in the summer transfer market.
The focus for the Reds so far this off-season has been fully on international football and gearing up for the summer tournaments.
That took another, pleasantly surprising, turn on Wednesday, when Darwin Nunez hit a hat-trick for Uruguay against Mexico.
But while Nunez is showing that Arne Slot’s forward line may be in good health after all, other signs have indicated that the midfield may be in need of upgrading.
Curtis Jones was bombed out of the England squad, while Dominik Szoboszlai was criticised for a poor display with Hungary. As a result, perhaps it shouldn’t be a shock to see Liverpool lining up a move for a new midfielder.
Liverpool make contact with Ederson agents
Midfield should arguably not be right at the top of the list of priorities for Liverpool this summer. Instead, the squad looks like it could more urgently do with an extra defender.
Nevertheless, it is still an area which Slot may feel he is a little short in. Defensive midfield is the obvious position to improve, although it doesn’t sound as though Wataru Endo is going anywhere.
Regardless of whether Endo does move on, Liverpool could do with finding a long-term anchor for their midfield. And with that in mind, journalist Fabrizio Romano says the Reds have made contact with Atalanta’s Ederson.
“Something to clarify on Ederson, the Brazilian midfielder of Atalanta,” Romano told his YouTube channel on Thursday evening. “Fantastic player, in the list of many clubs in terms of scouting.
READ MORE: All Liverpool incomings, outgoings, loans and releases in 2024/25
“We had today reports of a bid from Liverpool for Ederson,” he added. “What I’m hearing at the moment is that Atalanta have not received any official bid for Ederson yet. They know there is interest in him but they absolutely want to keep him at the club.
“It’s also true that Liverpool made contact with the agents of Ederson recently to understand about the situation of the player.
“It doesn’t mean that Ederson is going to Liverpool or it’s close or advanced or a done deal. But they are exploring the market before deciding which players they will go for and which players they will not go for.
“This is the situation, they have been following the player, scouting the player, but they still don’t know what they will do in that position. Ederson is a player they are monitoring, they appreciate, they made contact with his agents but before saying he’s in the list we still have to wait with Atalanta.”
Ederson looks like a good fit for Liverpool
You can understand why Liverpool have been sounding Ederson out over a move to Anfield. The 24-year-old had a really eye-catching season with Atalanta.
Ederson’s performance in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen may well have been the moment that tipped the balance for Liverpool.
The Brazilian absolutely dominated the midfield against Xabi Alonso’s side and was also excellent when playing Liverpool earlier in the competition.
There have been claims that Liverpool were watching Atalanta all campaign long in order to scout Teun Koopmeiners. However, while taking notes on Koopmeiners, Ederson caught their attention instead.
His tough tackling, all-action style of midfield play looks like a good fit for what Liverpool could do with. Having also been called up for the Brazil squad for the Copa America, Ederson’s career is on an upward curve.
He looks primed to take that next step. Let’s see if Liverpool take things further.