Liverpool eye record-breaking move for "generational" £150m gem, he's Xabi Alonso 2.0 - opinion

Liverpool saw FSG open their chequebook during the previous January transfer window when they secured a deal for Luis Diaz from Porto for an initial fee of £37m.

While the Reds still have a crucial period of the season left to play in to try and win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, it seems as though the club’s hierarchy could be in the mix to secure a very familiar player in the summer for another significant sum of money.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has identified West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice as his number one midfield transfer target.

If the Merseyside club were to secure a deal for the England international, this could see the Reds find their next version of Xabi Alonso.

On the subject of midfielders, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said that “every great team needs a defensively-minded man capable of progressing the ball.”

He then said that Alonso “was a perfect example” of this during his time at Anfield.

Taking into account how Rice has made 122 progressive passes for his side in the Premier League this season, the third-highest of any player at the east London club, he certainly has what it takes to replicate the same sort of attributes that the Spaniard offered.

The 23-year-old has also made a total of 43 live-ball passes that have led to a shot attempt, highlighting what a capable midfielder he is in terms of making attacking moves on the pitch.

Labelled as a “generational” talent by The Athletic’s West Ham journalist Roshane Thomas, Rice has been a pivotal figure for David Moyes this season.

With 29 league appearances under his belt, the midfielder has earned himself an overall season rating of 7.12 from WhoScored, making