Liverpool have fallen heavily below standards this season, and have been linked with a host of midfielders to reinstate an air of authority to their weathered outfit, and Sheffield United’s Sander Berge might be the man to navigate away from danger.
Despite languishing in ninth place in the Premier League and boasting just a solitary victory from six matches across all competitions since the turn of the year, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have not bolstered the central ranks.
Many players have indeed been linked, and a more prudent option on the list comes in the form of Norwegian midfielder Berge, who has been a centrepiece to his side’s efforts since arriving from Genk in a £22m deal in 2020.
Last week, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom confirmed via talkSPORT that Liverpool and Premier League rivals Chelsea has registered an interest in the gem.
And now, according to Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Fulham have lodged a £20m bid – plus add-ons – to land the talented ace, so Liverpool must act swiftly if they are to fortify the ranks ahead of the business end of the campaign.
While Klopp confirmed that no transfer business will be conducted before the closing of the January window, the Reds have been known to move beneath the waters with their past dealings, and should an apt opportunity arise a lunge for the phenom could indeed be made.
Should Liverpool sign Sander Berge?
Yes!
No
And Berge, who has racked up 87 appearances in Yorkshire since his arrival, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists, has demonstrated his worth on English soil, albeit largely in the second tier.
But United, who are second in the Championship table and a whopping 12 points ahead of third place Middlesbrough – also with a game in hand – have been a cut above the majority of the crop, and owe a large slice of their prosperous fortunes to Berge’s tenacity and ubiquitous midfield presence.
As per Sofascore, the 32-cap star has recorded an average match rating of 6.98 in the league this term, making 1.4 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.2 tackles per outing for his high-flying team.
With his vibrant addition to the Anfield ranks, Berge could be the perfect replacement for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain-Chamberlain, who is expected to depart the club upon the expiry of his contract in six months.
While United’s Berge is not the most exuberant of names to have reached the Liverpool rumour mill this season, he possesses a refined and all-embracing set of skills when it comes to his midfield work, and has been a vital cog in his Championship outfit’s thus far successful season, with teammate and former Red, Rhian Brewster, once remarking him as a “Rolls-Royce” of a midfielder.
Should Klopp and his technical director Julian Ward decide to push for a £20m move before the transfer doors slam shut tonight, Klopp could lay the foundation from which to build upon; with the Premier League giants lost at sea, Berge might just be worth entrusting with saving the ship from sinking.
