It’s the kind of position the vast majority – if not all – of Jurgen Klopp’s managerial counterparts would love to be in.
With the Champions League trophy and a club record-breaking Premier League points total in the bag, the Liverpool boss needs only to make minor alterations to a squad that has yet to reach its peak.
That’s why connections to the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and – in the strongest terms possible – Nicholas Pepe have been played down.
But one name that refuses to go is away is that of Bruno Fernandes.
After scoring an incredible 31 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season, the Portugal midfielder has also been linked with Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
But if the bookies are to be believed , Liverpool are the favourites to sign the 24-year-old.
Now the word coming out of Anfield is that the club will not be spending big this summer.
And Klopp’s options in the centre of the park will be boosted by the return to full fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and what should be a stronger second season for Naby Keita.
But the special guest of our latest podcast on the Blood Red channel, Alex Goncalves, believes Liverpool would not be disappointed if they did follow up their reported interest in Fernandes.
“He’s best described as an intelligent footballer – and that underpins his entire game,” said Goncalves, a Portuguese football expert who is the creator of the TugaScout.com website
“He regularly makes the correct decisions, at the right time, and ultimately he utilises what he has in his locker to his advantage at every given opportunity.
“He has that capacity to exploit opposition weaknesses, he has tremendous movement, he reads the game really well, and what he likes to do is get in between the lines and find those pockets of space to get heavily involved in the attacking play, and once he collects the ball, he is very effective.
“He is able to follow through with great passing range and very good dribbling, so in and out of position, he seems to have a really good knowledge of the game, and he’s so adept at the attacking side of the game.”
But it is Fernandes’ stunning goalscoring record from midfield – he has netted 47 times in 106 appearances for Sporting – that has brought his talents to wider attention.
Most of his goals have come when he has operated in the number 10 role.
But Goncalves believes the Sporting captain is equally comfortable in a deeper position that would allow him to slot into a three-man midfield like the one operated by Klopp at Liverpool.
“He could be play as the most adventurous, advanced midfielder but he’s also very adept at tracking back and helping regain that structure when out of position,” said Goncalves.
“I think it would be pretty seamless but the question would be, ‘would he be able to start because Liverpool's midfield seems relatively stacked, especially with Oxlade-Chamberlain returning as well?’
“So he would find it difficult to get the game time, but if they were paying the money Sporting want, you’d expect him to get a chance.”
And the price tag on Fernandes' head?
“I’d be shocked if he cost as much as his €100m euros release clause,” said Goncalves. “I'd assume €60-70m is probably what Sporting would be hoping for and I think in today’s market that would be very good business.
“Prices are heavily inflated right now, the markets have spiralled out of control, but to pick up one of the two best Portuguese performing players from last season for just £60m would be a tremendous acquisition.”
