In a recent report, Corriere dello Sport (via Liverpool Echo) mentioned that Liverpool are eyeing a move for AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer. It is believed that the Algerian talent is on the radar of the Merseyside outfit this month.
Bennacer’s Impressive Season At San Siro
The 24-year-old was a prominent feature in AC Milan’s squad last season when he managed to put in several solid displays for them at the centre of the park. Bennacer registered two goals and one assist in 40 appearances for the Italian giants in the previous campaign across all fronts.
The Arles-born sensation saw a lot of his playing chances come off the bench but did well to average 1.4 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.5 clearances, 0.5 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in Serie A football. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after making 87.7% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Italian football (stats via whoscored).
Bennacer’s current contract at San Siro runs out in the summer of 2024, so it won’t be easy for the Reds to acquire his services on the cheap before the end of this month.
What Will Bennacer Bring To Liverpool?
Bennacer is a good tackler of the ball and can make a few timely interceptions at the centre of the park. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the offensive and can strike the ball well from long range. The Algerian midfield ace has got the vision to create some decent chances for his teammates on the attacking third of the field. He can even make some clever runs with the ball from midfield when he is playing well on the pitch.
Someone of Bennacer’s skillset will no doubt strengthen Liverpool‘s match-day squad as he will enhance the quality of their midfield department. He is good enough to serve as a decent back-up to Fabinho at the Merseyside club in the coming seasons.
We can expect Bennacer to bring more bite and steel to Jurgen Klopp‘s midfield. At 24, he will only get better in the coming seasons which makes him a decent option for the Reds to pursue before the end of this summer transfer window.
However, there are some concerns over whether the Algerian midfielder would be able to cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Klopp should think about launching a move this month.
