Premier League star can REPLACE Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool have made a stunning start to the season, a fact all the more remarkable because Arne Slot is utilising the same squad of players as Jurgen Klopp.

Only Federico Chiesa was added in the summer transfer market and the Italian’s time on Merseyside could already be coming to an end.

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But Slot’s strength has been getting improved performances out of plenty of Liverpool’s first-team squad. Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have all found another gear under the Dutchman, allowing the Reds to ease to the top of the Premier League and Champions League standings.

But that hasn’t stopped transfer links to a host of players at other clubs. Liverpool did not recruit a midfielder last summer but plans are afoot to sign some in the upcoming transfer windows.

Despite prominent links to Martin Zubimendi in defensive midfield, it appears there are more advanced midfielders on the list too. Anfield Watch brought you news of interest in Nico Gonzalez and Samuele Ricci but there is also another name in the frame.

Intriguing links emerged earlier this week when Morgan Gibbs-White was associated with an Anfield move. The 24-year-old Nottingham Forest playmaker has been in sensational form this season as his side shoot up the standings.

Forest are currently third and in with a shout of Champions League football, having handed Liverpool their only defeat of the campaign thus far. Gibbs-White was instrumental that day and in truth has been at the heart of everything for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team this term.

Who can Gibbs-White replace?

He was signed for an initial £25 million from Wolves back in 2022 - with another £17m due in add-ons - and many questioned the wisdom of such an outlay. But Gibbs-White has led Forest’s Premier League campaigns with aplomb, earning himself two England caps in the process.

Now the links with bigger clubs have emerged and there is reason for Forest to be fearful. Gibbs-White is only under contract until 2027 and they could find themselves under pressure to sell should no new deal be agreed. That’s where Liverpool could swoop in and make Gibbs-White a key part of the midfield going forward.

But where could he fit in? And who should be worried about their place in the team?

According to FBRef, the most similar Premier League players to Gibbs-White over the last 365 days are Dominik Szoboszlai, Bruno Fernandes, James Maddison and Alex Iwobi. Also on the list of top 10 most similar players from around Europe are Julian Brandt and Teun Koopmeiners - two players solidly in the Liverpool firmament in transfer windows gone by.

But the Szoboszlai comparison could spell danger for the Hungary captain, who was challenged by Arne Slot earlier this season to up his chance creation and goalscoring numbers.

Gibbs-White is equalling - and even bettering - Szoboszlai’s numbers broadly this Premier League season despite playing in a team who have FAR less possession than the Reds do.

Gibbs-White even BETTER than Szoboszlai

Where Liverpool boast 56.9 percent possession on average, Forest have the lowest possession in the league at only 39.8 Despite his team having less of the ball, Gibbs-White would appear to be doing more with it than Szoboszlai.

He has made 15 starts compared to 12 for the Hungary captain, although Szoboszlai has played in 17 matches overall. He has played 1163 minutes to Szoboszlai’s 1132.

And his form in the last month has been particularly sharp with two goals and three assists since December 7. Szoboszlai has one goal and one assist in that timespan.

Overall, Gibbs-White has got three goals and three assists in the Premier League this season compared to two and two for his Liverpool counterpart.

On the ball, he has hit 416 passes overall compared to 564 for Szoboszlai. His percentage of completed passes is slightly lower at 78 in contrast to 85 but that perhaps speaks to an occasional risk-taking element for the Forest man.

Their shot-creating actions (passes, take-ons and drawing fouls) are equal at 42 apiece. Gibbs-White also dominates the completed live-ball passes that lead to a shot attempt statistic with 46 v 40.

Defensively, Gibbs-White has weighed in with 24 tackles compared to 14 from Szoboszlai. Again it must be remembered that Forest in general have far less of the ball on average. But he’s made 34 tackles and interceptions overall compared to the former RB Leipzig man’s 21.

There’s not a lot between them in overall touches; 698 for Gibbs-White compared to 768 for Szoboszlai. Gibbs-White also comes out on top in terms of take-ons, completing 21 of his 43 attempts. Szoboszlai is a lot more static, completing 12 of only 18 attempts.

Gibbs-White enjoys Curtis Jones link-up

While it’s not yet known how he would fare in a more possession-based outfit at club level, he looked at ease for England in his two UEFA Nations League outings towards the end of the year, even grabbing an assist for a sumptuous Curtis Jones goal against Greece.

That could offer a tantalising glimpse of what an Anfield link-up looks like in the future.

And while Slot might well be content to get the best he can out of the players already on the books, the transfer links won’t stop and the Dutchman will eye upgrades wherever he can.

Szoboszlai, you have been warned.

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