Liverpool want 22-year-old being compared to Javier Mascherano

The Liverpool side that we see today could look markedly different by the beginning of next season.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it should be the adage by which any new managerial incumbent abides, at least for the first few months of their tenure, however, that’s not generally how it works with football, as the new broom will undoubtedly want to sweep clean.

Whomever comes in after Jurgen Klopp really is taking a poisoned chalice. To simply try and banish the memories of the previous regime isn’t likely to get them anywhere with such a loyal crop of players, though there will certainly need to be an element of moving things forward in a different direction.

A nod to the past with an eye on the future is likely to be the way to go, and getting that balance right, however difficult it may be to achieve, is imperative.

One player that the club appear to be looking at, regardless of which manager steps into the hot-seat, is Porto’s excellent defensive midfielder, Alan Varela.

Alan Varela could be the new Mascherano for Liverpool

Mirror Sport compare him to a former Liverpool old boy, Javier Mascherano, and Arsenal got a good look at how well he marshal’s the Portuguese giant’s midfield in their recent Champions League clash.

O Jogo (h/t Mirror Sport) note that the Reds could be looking to activate the player’s release clause this summer, and the outlet also suggest he’s now worth in the region of €70m despite only being signed for €8m at the start of the season.

Porto could find that sort of money too hard to turn down.