'Exceptional' £25m midfielder looks set for a move in 2025 and it could well be to Liverpool - opinion
01/04/2025 04:30 PM
The January transfer window has opened with Liverpool under pressure to bolster their squad.
It was a quiet 2024 for the Reds, who added just one new player throughout the calendar year.
As January gets underway, Liverpool are in a phenomenal position in the Premier League table.
But as they threaten to run away with the title race this year, supporters would still like to see the Liverpool squad added to in a couple of crucial areas.
One position which has been under the microscope all season has been the centre of midfield. And although Ryan Gravenberch has done brilliantly, most fans recognise that another option is needed.
With talk that Martin Zubimendi is ready to leave Real Sociedad, some may like to see Liverpool return for the Spaniard. But in our opinion, a move for Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci may now be more likely.
Samuele Ricci plotting Torino exit
Ricci has been linked with Liverpool after really coming to the fore with both Torino and the Italy national team this season.
Having only turned 22 last August, the former Empoli man is developing into one of the most eye-catching, deeper-lying midfielders in Europe.
Interestingly, Ricci signed a new contract with Torino earlier this week, with his previous deal having ran only until 2026.
With an extra two years added onto his agreement in Turin, the feeling may have been one of deflation for Ricci’s legion of suitors.
However, it later emerged that Ricci has a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Torino, which will see the Serie A club allow him to move if an offer of £25m or so arrives.
From a Liverpool point of view, it would now make all the sense in the world to target Ricci. Affordable, get able and very much in the right kind of mould for Arne Slot, the Italian is one to watch in 2025.
Could Liverpool move for Ricci in January?
With Torino seemingly open to losing Ricci for the right price, it looks possible that he could leave in January. The Granata are going nowhere much this season, mired in 10th place in the Serie A table.
So, while Ricci is key to Paolo Vanoli’s side, it’s probable that if a bid comes in that matches their valuation, Torino will let their No.28 go.
| Goals | Assists | Pass Accuracy | Dribble Success | Tackles Won | Duels Won | |
| Samuele Ricci | 1 | 0 | 89.4% | 33.3% | 52.6% | 58.2% |
| Alexis Mac Allister | 1 | 2 | 87.6% | 31.2% | 61.5% | 48.0% |
| Ryan Gravenberch | 0 | 2 | 90.1% | 54.8% | 52.9% | 59.3% |
| Curtis Jones | 3 | 2 | 95.2% | 80.0% | 52.4% | 53.3% |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 2 | 2 | 86.3% | 66.7% | 64.3% | 48.5% |
That could represent a slight issue for Liverpool, as it seems that they are unwilling to do any mid-season business at the moment. Someone could pip them to the post.
As Rousing The Kop also exclusively revealed, the Reds are in talks to bring Stefan Bajcetic back from RB Salzburg and would not need another midfielder should that happen.
But if Bajcetic does not return or the Italian is still on the market in the summer, it would not be a surprise to see the Reds make the most out of his new agreement with Torino. Good price, good age, great player. Add Richard Hughes’ Italian background to the mix and it starts to feel very plausible.
