Liverpool ‘moved too late’ for former Arne Slot midfielder, now set for Brighton – Liverpool FC

Liverpool have reportedly failed in their bid to hijack Brighton’s move for Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.

After playing 42 times for Arne Slot last season, Wieffer was a name vaguely linked with the Reds and a new report from Holland appears to have confirmed Liverpool’s interest.

However, any plans Slot may have had to bring his former player to Merseyside have now been scuppered, with Brighton reported to have agreed an initial £25million deal for the 24-year-old .

By TelegraafMarcel van der Kraan wrote: “According to well-informed sources in Brighton, Feyenoord general manager Dennis te Kloese is currently in England to finalize the deal.

“At Liverpool, Slot, as Wieffer’s former manager, is reported to have given the go-ahead to bring him in, but new sporting director Richard Hughes acted too late.”

Despite Brighton reaching an agreement, the journalist reports that “Liverpool are still making desperate attempts to sign Mats Wieffer”.

It seems strange that Liverpool would make a last-gasp effort to sign the defensive midfielder, given that the sporting director and company have had plenty of time to make the move in the last month.

If the Reds wanted him “desperately” then they certainly would have acted sooner. Liverpool would almost certainly be Wieffer’s preferred destination over Brighton.

Who is Mats Wieffer?

With nine caps in the Netherlands, Wieffer is highly regarded in the Eredivisie but is not widely regarded as a player who can reach the top of world football.

Dutch football journalist Michael Statham explained to him This is Anfield how the Dutchman de Slot was used at Feyenoord.

“Mats Wieffer is a midfielder, but when I’m watching a game he’ll come in at centre-back and they’ll put on an extra attacking player,” Statham said.

“Wieffer has done pretty well this season, but I don’t know how high his ceiling is.”

Despite being just under 6 meters tall, the number 6 is exceptionally strong in the air compared to other midfielders.

Over the past year, he ranks in the top 1% of comparable players in Europe’s top five leagues with 3.13 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, according to FBRef.

However, this is not particularly what Liverpool need in a holding midfielder.

Moving forward, they need a mobile player with plenty of ball skills who also has a knack for sniffing out dangerous runners.