Liverpool fans, get ready—your club might finally be closing in on the midfield signing you've been dreaming of this summer.

Sporting director Richard Hughes is putting midfield reinforcements at the top of his to-do list for the upcoming transfer window. And true to Liverpool's style, they're already working behind the scenes. Anfield Watch has learned that the club has drawn up an ambitious shortlist of targets, with names being carefully evaluated. This early groundwork is classic Liverpool—they like to strike quickly and decisively, often wrapping up deals before the market heats up. Over the next few weeks, Hughes and his recruitment team will narrow down their options.

Why the urgency in midfield? It all comes down to uncertainty. Contract talks with Alexis Mac Allister have reportedly hit a standstill, leaving his long-term future up in the air. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones is heading into the final year of his current deal, putting Liverpool in a tricky spot. If both situations remain unresolved, the club could be facing a real shortage in the middle of the park. That's why Liverpool is expected to bring in at least two new midfielders—and possibly more, depending on how things shake out.

And here's where it gets exciting. According to the latest report from Fussball Daten, Liverpool is lining up a move for RB Leipzig's rising star, German international Assan Ouedraogo. The 19-year-old is seen as one of the brightest young talents in European football. Back in the 2023/24 season, when he first burst onto the scene as a teenager at Schalke, Liverpool was already very keen on bringing him to Anfield.

Now, it looks like they're ready to make it happen. The report claims that Michael Edwards and his recruitment team are preparing a package worth €40 million, including bonuses, to secure Ouedraogo's signature. If this deal goes through, Liverpool could be adding a dynamic, future-proof midfielder to their ranks—exactly the kind of move that keeps a squad competitive for years to come.