Danny Murphy: Liverpool should sign Balde in January

Danny Murphy has urged Liverpool to seriously consider signing out-of-favor Barcelona left-back Balde this January.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has described Barcelona left-back Balde as a "super talent."

Danny Murphy has once again urged Liverpool to seriously consider signing out-of-favor Barcelona left-back Balde this winter.

Liverpool invested heavily this summer, intending to provide Andoni Iraola with the best possible conditions upon taking over after Arne Slot was dismissed as manager.

This led to Jérémy Jacquet, Barcola, and Víctor Muñoz joining Andoni Iraola's squad for a combined total of approximately £200 million, and they have had a fairly good start at Anfield.

However, Liverpool dropped points in five of their first 10 Premier League matches, quickly turning attention to the January transfer window as an opportunity for further reinforcement.

Milos Kerkez's performance has been inconsistent since he joined Liverpool from AFC Bournemouth 18 months ago for £40 million, leading to speculation that Liverpool might re-enter the transfer market for a new left-back.

In recent days, the Merseyside giants are reportedly keen on Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Santos' Vinicius Lira. Neither Milos Kerkez nor Tsimikas has fully convinced fans that they can fill the void left by Robertson.

But in Murphy's view, Balde, a "super talent," could be the ideal signing for Liverpool, as the out-of-favor Spaniard is accustomed to the expectations that come with playing for a "big club."

This season, Balde has made only three substitute appearances in La Liga. Midway through the season, Manchester United were also seen as a potential destination for the £33 million defender.

"I think Liverpool will consider looking for a left-back, but it's difficult because I don't know Milos Kerkez personally. I know he works very hard, and you can see from his effort that he cares, which is already a good start," the former Liverpool and England midfielder said in an interview with Betarades.

"He cares about the shirt and he's working very hard to make things happen."

"I think Balde would be a good fit for Liverpool because he's a super talent, and he also has the experience of playing for a big club and handling that kind of expectation."

"Balde is a very good player. There are many other good players out there, and Liverpool will be scouting worldwide."

Murphy believes that after prioritizing young players in recent transfer windows, Liverpool might need to start looking for "more mature" and "ready-made" players.

"I think the most important thing is to bring in someone who you don't have to guess whether they can handle the pressure of a big club," he added.

"It requires a delicate balance because Liverpool has done very well over the years in unearthing 'rough diamonds.' Players like Coutinho, Robertson, and even Sadio Mané during his Southampton days. Roberto Firmino only cost about £20 million at the time."

"Liverpool unearthed those rough diamonds and polished them into superstars; but when we tried to spend big money on established stars, it didn't work out as well.

"I still feel that sometimes, especially in defensive positions, you really need ready-made players, especially when the team is in a difficult situation.

"I think Liverpool now have enough young players who need to grow. Now there's a reason to bring in some more mature players."

Murphy has some sympathy for Milos Kerkez, but he believes the Hungarian international must work hard and improve his composure if he wants to succeed at Liverpool.

"He lacks composure and quality when he gets into the final third. His final pass or cross is too often not good enough," he continued.

"I think his quality sometimes suffers because he's too fast, always playing at a hundred miles an hour. I'm a bit surprised the club hasn't helped him more to slow down a bit, be calmer in those areas, and settle himself down.

"If his defending were excellent, it wouldn't be such a big problem, but he also struggles defensively. His positioning is sometimes off, and he's a bit inconsistent when he rushes in or gets beaten.

"He likes to challenge opponents. This is a difficult problem for Liverpool, and I think they will definitely take it seriously and try to resolve it, because not every signing can be a success."

Speaking about Milos Kerkez, Murphy continued: "I watched him that year at AFC Bournemouth, and I thought he was a very good young player.

"But one thing many people don't understand, and you only truly grasp it when you're in that position, is what it feels like to move from one environment to the high-intensity, magnified world of Liverpool Football Club.

"Every game, every minute, every mistake is analyzed by fans, the media, and a global audience. I think that expectation and pressure might be a bit too much for him."