Though Liverpool have indulged in a second consecutive summer spending spree, they are being linked with a multi-million pound move for Real Madrid Asier Illarramendi. His Los Blancos career has not taken off in the way many expected, and the right to replace Xabi Alonso appears to have been passed to Toni Kroos.

However, the Spanish starlet may indeed still replace the man he was touted to be the next coming of. Just at Liverpool. Since Alonso’s departure to La Liga back in 2009, the side have never truly replaced him. His sale coincided with the Merseysiders descent down the league, and club icon Steven Gerrard was left ‘devastated’ by the move.

With Gerrard now gone too, the Reds have lost the final member of the great Mascherano-Alonso-Gerrard engine room. That was a world class midfield, and the current incumbents of the spot are tasked with moving the club into a new era. James Milner, Emre Can and new captain Jordan Henderson offer quality, but not of that class.

Obviously, it will be hard to replicate the magic midfield of years passed. However, a move for Illarramendi would go some way to help. Though he has struggled to live up to his billing since a £30m to the Bernabeu, the scheming Spaniard is an upgrade on the likes of Joe Allen and Lucas Levia.

An excellent passer of the ball, as shown by his 91.4 pass completion rate, the Spaniard excels as a deep lying playmaker. Quite often, that particular role is confused with that of a defensive midfielder, though they differ greatly. Andrea Pirlo, Kroos and Alonso himself are not particularly defensive, though excel in the deep role.

However, Illarramendi is known for his defensive aptitude. A great reader of the game, he managed 3.1 interceptions per 90 minutes last season. Milner and Henderson offer great energy, linking up to the fluid attackers who lead the line for the Reds, but their rampaging runs may leave the side short when possession is lost.

Assured over all-action, the Real Madrid man would slot nicely into 4-3-3, between Milner and Henderson. He can also operate as the holding man in a 4-2-3-1, where his aforementioned potential colleagues do not sit so naturally.

Brazilian stalwart Lucas Levia is constantly battling injury, and the ‘Welsh Xavi’ Joe Allen has failed to convince since his move from Swansea. Perhaps the transfer target is not as ludicrously talented as Xabi Alonso, but would represent a step up from the current crop of defensive midfielders.

With Rodgers under more pressure than most, addressing a requirement left untouched for over half a decade may be his best possible move.