Liverpool appear to have recognised a weakness in their midfield, with reports suggesting that the Reds made an offer for Inter Milan youngster Aleksandar Stankovic during the summer transfer window.
Andoni Iraola’s side have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, but questions continue to surround the balance of the squad, particularly in the middle of the park.
While Liverpool have invested heavily in attacking talent, their lack of a natural defensive midfielder has raised concerns. Those concerns were evident again on Sunday when Iraola deployed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in a two-man midfield during the Reds’ 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.
Szoboszlai’s continued involvement in a deeper midfield role has attracted criticism, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher among those to question the team’s set-up during the early weeks of the Premier League campaign.
According to a report from Tuttomercatoweb, Liverpool made an approach for Aleksandar Stankovic over the summer. The 20-year-old midfielder reportedly caught the club’s attention after an impressive spell at Club Brugge last season.
Stankovic, the son of Inter legend Dejan Stankovic, was apparently considered as part of the deal that saw Curtis Jones move to San Siro. However, the Serbian midfielder reportedly preferred to remain with Inter, preventing the move from happening.
The situation could change in January. Stankovic has found himself on the fringes of Inter’s first team this season, and a move in search of regular playing time could become a possibility.
Liverpool’s midfield options currently include Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister as their most experienced players capable of operating in a deeper role. Youngster Trey Nyoni has also shown promising glimpses, with FourFourTwo reporting that Iraola is keen to give him opportunities throughout the campaign.
Despite bringing in several high-profile players, including Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet, Liverpool were unable to complete every deal they had planned during the summer.
Yankuba Minteh was reportedly among the club’s preferred targets to replace Mohamed Salah, although a transfer proved difficult to arrange, particularly with the Gambian winger missing the start of the season through injury.
There have also been early concerns over Liverpool’s full-back options, with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, two of the club’s major signings in 2025, experiencing difficulties in the opening stages of the campaign.
Stankovic is currently valued at €32 million by Transfermarkt, and Liverpool could potentially revisit their interest in the midfielder when the January transfer window opens.
The Reds will return to Premier League action after the international break with a difficult fixture against Manchester City, giving Iraola another opportunity to assess his squad’s strengths and weaknesses.
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