Dietmar Hamann tells Liverpool to sign £90m midfielder who is the 'missing link' for trophy success

Dietmar Hamann has told his former club Liverpool to sign Aurélien Tchouaméni who he believes is the 'missing link' for success.

Tchouaméni, 23, was a standout midfield target for Liverpool before he made the move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2022.

The French midfielder has developed into one of the most high-profile names in defensive midfield over the past few seasons and is among a strong core of young midfielders at the Spanish club that also includes Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.

Speaking to BoyleSports, Hamann made his case for Liverpool to sign the French star: "I think Tchouaméni would complete the missing link at Liverpool. Mac Allister and Endo are playing in that position at the moment, and though Endo is able to play there and is a good player, a top-class number six is the only thing missing for Liverpool.

"Alexis is doing really well, but I think he'd rather play a bit further forward. Tchouaméni and Camavinga are the benchmark for that position at the moment, and Tchouaméni would be a tremendous signing."

With Liverpool bringing in four midfielders, Jurgen Klopp is well-stacked in midfield. However, there's also the underlying issue of a true, lone defensive midfielder who could replicate what Fabinho did across five years at the club.

Wataru Endo was the most defensively-minded midfielder that was brought in but he hasn't been a key starter as Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have all formed a strong midfield trio.

Endo and Ryan Gravenberch are fine alternates, as well as Harvey Elliott and young Stefan Bajcetic, and the question of whether they will need to invest again in a defensive midfielder will be something that is tracked across the full season.

As it stands, they have lost once across all competitions so far and they are flying in their Europa League group, they face West Ham in the EFL Cup quarter-finals and they are three points off the top of the league.

If this season sees them fall short of success due to a lack of defensive protection in midfield across big games, then the discussion will reopen then. But, for now, Liverpool are coping well and their midfield contingent looks hugely impressive compared to last season.