Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai would both start ahead of Federico Valverde.
The Real Madrid star has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield in recent months as Jurgen Klopp overhauls his midfield. At just 24 years old, Valverde would bring a wealth of winning experience, having already won two LaLiga titles and a Champions League trophy.
Mac Allister arrived at Liverpool from Brighton & Hove Albion last month for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around the £35m mark.
The World Cup winner was then joined at Anfield by Szoboszlai at the start of this month after he finalised his switch from RB Leipzig less than 48 hours after Liverpool triggered a release clause in his contract.
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But despite the continued speculation linking the Uruguayan with a move to Merseyside, Kop icon Nicol, speaking to ESPN, believes Valverde would find his game time limited due to the arrivals of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.
He said: "Listen, Valverde’s not getting let go from Real Madrid because he’s that great. If Real Madrid are prepared to let him go, it tells you that they don’t think he’s the future.
"Liverpool have just signed Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, they already have Fabinho, Henderson’s still around for another year.
"Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, two young guys, particularly Elliott, who will play. Does he start before Szoboszlai? No. Does he start before Mac Allister? No.
"So, if you’re Valverde, you’re going to be thinking about that as well. Thiago’s still there. So if I’m Valverde, I’m thinking, number one, they’re [Real Madrid] prepared to let me go. Two, do I start [at Liverpool]?"
