Liverpool make offer for Gary Medel
Liverpool have reportedly made an offer for former Cardiff City midfielder Gary Medel. According to Corriere della Sera, the Reds have made contact with Inter Milan as they look to strengthen their squad before the end of the transfer window. The midfielder made 34 appearances for Cardiff City in the Premier League after joining from Sevilla. It is believed that a deal for Medel may include Lucas Leiva heading to the San Siro.
However, since then the Chilean has become a key player for Inter. The 29-year-old has made 78 appearances in his two seasons at the San Siro. The midfielder doesn’t provide many goals or assists, but he could have a Mascherano type role for Liverpool which they have lacked since the Argentine’s departure.
Copa America player of the Tournament
The midfielder has proved to a vital asset for Chile over the past couple of years. Medel has 95 appearances for La Roja, scoring 7 times. Although players such as Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez gain most of the plaudits, Medel’s importance can not be ignored. The midfielder was integral to Chile’s Copa America success less than two months ago. His impressive performance so him named as player of the tournament as Chile retained their title.
Key strengths
The 29-year-old’s biggest strengths is his ability to win the ball back and break up play. This is vital attribute for a player playing under Jurgen Klopp’s high intensity ‘Gegenpressing‘ style. Last year, Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante highlighted the importance of a player like this as his incredible form helped the Foxes to the title. Sunday’s 4-3 win over Arsenal at the Emirates highlighted that Liverpool are still vulnerable defensively and a player like Medel could help bring some protection and stability.
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