Transfer insider Dean Jones believes Liverpool will now turn their attention to bolstering the midfield department. 

The lowdown: Through the door

Newly appointed Sporting Director Julian Ward has wasted little time in flexing his negotiation muscles having taken over from Michael Edwards, securing the capture of Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64million (Sky Sports).

The Uruguayan frontman follows Fulham youngster Fabio Carvalho through the arrivals door at Anfield, albeit much of the work for the 19-year-old starlet was completed in January.

A deal has also been agreed for Calvin Ramsay to join from Aberdeen, with the Reds now waiting on the young Scot to pass a medical and sign on the dotted line of a five-year contract.

The latest: Midfielders incoming...

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones has claimed that Liverpool will now attempt to reinforce the midfield options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal, although it could be for next summer if none of the current options depart.

He said: “I think it’s the next big position that he’ll be looking at. We know they’ve had an eye on players like Tchouameni recently, and they might have gone through with it, but they were definitely keeping an eye on players at that level.

“If Milner would have gone and Oxlade-Chamberlain was leaving, then I would feel like they had reason to strengthen right now. But, as it stands right now, Liverpool have got loads of numbers in that area of the field.”

Paul Joyce of The Times also believes midfield is next on the agenda, but reports that the club are happy to wait until next year.

The verdict: Signing needed

Even if the Reds do get another season out of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Klopp and Ward should be targeting an alternative to Aurelien Tchouameni as the German manager embarks on another hectic campaign that will start with the Community Shield before a Premier League opener against Fulham and be fragmented by the mid-season World Cup in Qatar.

Having missed out on the Frenchman to Real Madrid, it's likely that FSG are willing to sanction further funds this summer and as such, finding a player who can operate in multiple midfield roles to potentially rotate with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson is essential.

Last season, Fabinho in particular made a mammoth 48 appearances across all competitions and is almost certain to be an integral part of the Brazil squad in the winter.

As things stand, the only natural cover comes in the shape of youngster Tyler Morton, with both James Milner and Henderson forced to filled in at times, leaving adequate room within the squad for a genuine understudy to be added to the Anfield ranks.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped a Sadio Mane transfer twist.