Although Liverpool secured their third consecutive Premier League victory with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, the club currently trails league leaders Arsenal by a considerable margin of ten points, underscoring the necessity for squad strengthening during the transfer windows.
A central figure in Arsenal’s dominant performance this season has been England international Declan Rice. He has recorded two goals and three assists, according to Sofascore, alongside successfully winning 55% of his individual duels—a testament to his consistent, high-impact presence in the middle of the pitch.
Under the management of Arne Slot, the Reds are now reportedly looking to sign a dynamic midfielder who could serve as their own equivalent to the former West Ham United star, Declan Rice.
A recent report from Spain suggests that Liverpool has initiated a strong pursuit of Real Madrid’s young talent, Eduardo Camavinga, ahead of the upcoming January transfer window. The report further claims that the Premier League club has already submitted a substantial opening offer of £61 million in an attempt to secure the services of the highly-rated France international to bolster their central midfield options.
However, the proposed transfer faces significant obstacles. Real Madrid is determined to retain the left-footed sensation for the remainder of the season, viewing Camavinga as an indispensable key player. They are reportedly not actively looking to sell the Frenchman, meaning Liverpool may be required to significantly increase their bid to successfully land him.
Despite Real Madrid`s firm resistance, Slot should urge the club to continue pressing for the Real Madrid star, as Camavinga demonstrates the potential to be a complete midfield powerhouse, mirroring the versatility and dominance of Declan Rice.
Camavinga, like the English superstar, is an exceptionally well-rounded central midfielder capable of influencing games both defensively and offensively. Data compiled over the past 365 days illustrates that both players excel across multiple facets of the game, proving they are far from “one-trick ponies” but rather comprehensive operators.
The France international, whom analyst Raj Chohan described as a `duel monster`, boasts phenomenal statistics in physical encounters, winning 70% of his ground duels in La Liga this season (per Sofascore). Furthermore, according to FBref data, Camavinga ranks within the top 20% of midfielders for progressive passes (6.33 per 90 minutes) and the top 4% for successful take-ons (1.93 per 90), highlighting his outstanding ability to advance the ball alongside his defensive mastery.
Winning 50% or more of both his ground and aerial duels, Camavinga presents a compelling case for being a significant upgrade over current Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, particularly in the holding role.
| 25/26 season | Camavinga (LaLiga) | Mac Allister (Premier League) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 12 | 17 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| xA (Expected Assists) | 0.89 | 0.82 |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.6x | 0.9x |
| Ground duel success rate | 70% | 47% |
| Aerial duel success rate | 56% | 42% |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
As the comparison table clearly shows, the Argentine midfielder has struggled physically in the Premier League this season, losing the majority of both his ground and aerial duels. Camavinga’s impressive defensive metrics and ball progression skills make him a potentially transformative signing that could narrow the gap between Liverpool and the current league leaders.
Rupert Fawcett
