Liverpool are still 'looking' to sign a new midfielder this summer but Frenkie de Jong is staying put at Barcelona, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Midfielder desperately needed

The Reds may have won 9-0 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, getting their Premier League season up and running, but they still badly need an extra midfielder.

Injuries to Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have left Jurgen Klopp short on options, while Jordan Henderson and James Milner have both come under fire for recent performances.

De Jong is one player that Liverpool have been loosely linked with signing, but a fresh update has now emerged which appears to have poured cold water on any prospects of the Reds landing the Dutchman.

The Latest: Midfield update emerges

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Jacobs claimed that De Jong would now remain at Barcelona, with the Reds working hard on an alternative.

The reporter tweeted:

"Frenkie de Jong is expected to get his wish and stay at Barcelona. As previously reported, Manchester United have all but given up. No significant new offensive to sign him has taken place. Chelsea haven't made any further progress either. Liverpool looking elsewhere."

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The Verdict: Business simply must be done

There is no excuse for Liverpool not to sign a midfielder between now and deadline day on Thursday - failure to do so would arguably be negligence on the part of Klopp, the transfer committee and owners FSG.

While the Reds' selective style has often worked wonders in the transfer market in recent years, occasionally it is vital to bring in a player who may not be the absolute perfect target in order to solve a squad depth crisis.

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That's what Liverpool are experiencing in midfield right now, and in defence two seasons ago, so it is imperative that a new face arrives in the middle of the park, giving that area of the squad a much-needed injection of depth.