EXCLUSIVE: The full lowdown on Samuele Ricci as Liverpool identify PERFECT Martin Zubimendi alternative

Earlier this month Anfield Watch broke the news that Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci was a player that Liverpool were keeping a close eye on.

The 23-year-old has impressed club staff during his breakout season and he could end up on Merseyside sooner rather than later.

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That news was followed by reports in the Italian press earlier this week that Liverpool were among the teams hoping to acquire the Italy international’s services in transfer windows upcoming.

Ricci is under contract with Torino until 2026 and without a new contract his reported €60 million valuation could soon drop. However, Liverpool could well face competition should Richard Hughes opt to make an attempt to sign him.

AC Milan, Inter and Manchester City have all been mentioned as potential destinations for the midfield prompter, who looks increasingly ready to take the next step in his burgeoning career.

We caught up with Footballtransfers.com resident Italian football expert Carlo Garganese for the full lowdown on Liverpool’s latest transfer target.

What kind of player is Samuele Ricci?

Carlo: Ricci is a central midfielder who is capable of playing either as a deep-lying midfielder (a regista) or as a box-to-box midfielder (a mezzala) to the right or left of a midfield three.

Ricci often comes deep for the ball to collect it and he is very comfortable under pressure.

Technically excellent and a fine passer of different ranges, Ricci's idol and reference point growing up was one of the greatest passers of all time in Italy legend Andrea Pirlo.

He is nothing like Pirlo as he often keeps the game simple with short passes but he has the ability to play more difficult passes also. His positioning and understanding of space is very good.

Can he go to another level?

Carlo: So far he has displayed the personality required to play at a higher level.

His standout performance which really attracted the major clubs was his performance in Paris for Italy in September against France. Italy won that game 3-1 and Ricci dominated the central midfield.

He always wanted the ball, never gave it away and looked like a player ready to play at a higher level.

What has been so special about his year to date?

Carlo: A study by Gazzetta dello Sport at the end of September 2024 showed that Ricci had the second-highest ball retention rate in Europe under pressure this season.

At 92.5% ball retention, only Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich was better. This is a player who has the press resistance needed to play for one of the big clubs.

A valuation of €60m, does it seem fair or realistic?

Carlo: Perhaps a little high considering he has only played for Empoli and Torino, has no European experience, and just six caps for Italy. But that shouldn’t detract from his ability and potential as a player.

Can he play in more than one role?

Carlo: He is at his best as a deep-lying central midfielder, picking the ball up from the defence and keeping the game ticking while also protecting the defence.

But he is also able to play as a box-to-box midfielder in a more advanced role. So he is versatile in different central midfield positions and systems.

Do you think he can cope with the physicality of the Premier League?

Carlo: Ricci has stood up physically to everything he has been up against so far in his career. He is just shy of six foot tall, and has a good engine.

There is no reason to think he would struggle with the Premier League’s physicality, which is an area that Italy teammates Sandro Tonali and Riccardo Calafiori have flourished in so far.

How would you compare him to Ryan Gravenberch in style and ability?

Carlo: They have their similarities in terms of both being excellent in tight spaces and being comfortable on the ball. Both can also play deeper as a six or slightly more advanced as more of an 8.

Gravenberch is a bit more advanced in terms of experience at a big club and league, but the potential is there for Ricci.

Do you think he's better than Martin Zubimendi?

Carlo: Zubimendi is more of a press-breaker in terms of advancing forward, while Ricci is more press-resistant in terms of not losing the ball and keeping it moving. The former has more experience at a higher level but Ricci is younger.

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