Liverpool set to LOSE midfield maestro to Tottenham

Ryan Gravenberch has been an absolute revelation this season.

He has, arguably, sorted out Liverpool’s defensive midfield position ad infinitum. It came as a surprise to most people early in the season but no one is complaining about the level he has been performing at.

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But he is currently playing every three days and, despite his performance, it feels untenable. Liverpool are light in depth at the position. Tyler Morton is a natural backup who has played well when called upon but is young and going through a series of injuries, whilst Wataru Endo is loved by fans but not a long-term option.

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Liverpool have been looking at depth pieces at the position as a result. Martin Zubimendi has been the highest profile of these - and he would almost certainly slot straight into the starting lineup somewhere - but could be going to any number of places at the moment.

Another was Real Betis’s Johnny Cardoso. The 23-year old American has turned heads since moving to Spain from Brazilian side Internacional this time last year.

However, it was fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur that moved first on Cardoso. As part of their deal to sell Giovanni Lo Celso to Betis, Spurs agreed a £21m non-mandatory purchase option with the club.

This fee would be fairly reasonable as Cardoso is valued at roughly £20 million by Football Transfers.

Liverpool set to miss out on Johnny Cardoso to Tottenham

And now Football Insider’s Peter O’Rourke, speaking on their Inside Track podcast, has revealed that Tottenham intend to trigger this clause as soon as they can after the end of this season.

Cardoso recently agreed a new contract until 2030 with Real Betis but this isn’t expected to stand in Spurs’ way.

As a result, it now seems like Liverpool will miss out on this talent.

It is a frustrating position as Cardoso could have been a superb development and rotation option for the club trying to replenish their ranks as soon as they possibly can.

Instead it seems like they will play him twice a season instead. He joins a Tottenham side that are struggling under Ange Postecoglu and who capitulated in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield in midweek, despite arriving with a 1-0 aggregate lead.

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Maybe we should let them have this one, then.

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