sport news As Jurgen Klopp prepares to overhaul his squad, Mail Sport assesses Liverpool's ... trends now

With incoming sporting director Jorg Schmadtke freshly installed at Anfield, Liverpool's summer business can begin in earnest, and top of Jurgen Klopp's wishlist? A shiny new midfield.

Liverpool's shaky season was given new life in the latter stages after Klopp made impressive tweaks to the midpack, most notably in Trent Alexander-Arnold's role, but whilst the improvements kept the Reds in contention for European glory next season, the modifications weren't built to last.

Instead, the German manager and his compatriot will be combing the international top flight for available talent who could go some way to living up to their former top target, Jude Bellingham.

As things stand, Liverpool are said to be considering three targets that are a cut above: Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone, Khephren Thuram of Nice, and Brighton's World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister.

Looking at the three players alongside one another, it's immediately clear why Klopp and Schmadtke favour the midfielders, with all of them capable of providing both attacking heft and defensive grounding after strong seasons in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Premier League respectively.

Alexis Mac Allister has emerged as a key target after the Reds halted their pursuit of Jude Bellingham after the winter break

Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone is being tracked by both Liverpool and Man United

After a strong season in Nice and a France call-up, Khepren Thurman is a player in demand

As per statisticians Delphlyx, All are intelligent readers of the game, with similarly high successful pass percentages.

Mac Allister's, at 88.09 per cent per 90 minutes, is the highest but Thuram's 87.47 per cent, and Kone's 86.02 per cent are in touching distance of the Brighton player.

But or a central midfielder, Mac Allister offers a runaway attacking threat that Kone and Thuram have a hard time catching.

Making an average of one shot on target per 90 minutes, the Argentina international's chunky 0.33 xG per match accounts for his superior goal contributions - with 12 goals and three assists for Brighton across all competitions.

Alongside his impressive club contributions, Mac Allister was a linchpin in Argentina's World Cup-winning squad after garnering just nine senior appearances for his country before travelling to Qatar.

Liverpool's goal provision this season has been a team effort, and Mac Allister's possibilities higher up the pitch could make him an enticing prospect for Klopp and Schmadtke to consider. His profile comes in contrast to Thuram's and Kone's, both of whom have a marginally more defensive aspect to their game.