Liverpool are undergoing a somewhat transitional season this term, to put it mildly and the 2-0 derby win over Everton will surely not be enough to satiate Jurgen Klopp and the extremely high standards that he sets at Anfield.

The club currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, nine points from the Champions League places, and unless a remarkable turnaround is achieved over the final 17 matches, the Reds may miss out on European competition altogether for 2023/24.

January was the perfect time to make some changes and sign a couple of players to give the squad a much-needed spark, having been so lethargic during the opening few months of the campaign. Despite being linked with the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo they ended up with Cody Gakpo, which is a solid enough addition, albeit one which doesn’t improve their midfield conundrum.

Klopp missed a chance to secure a move for Sofyan Amrabat during the January transfer window, and he could’ve been a cheaper option compared to some of the Reds' other targets.

Will Klopp rue missing out on a move for Sofyan Amrabat?

Available for £35m from Serie A outfit Fiorentina according to The Mirror (23 December 2022, p53), the Moroccan would have been an ideal option to rejuvenate Klopp’s midfield.

With James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract in the summer, and Thiago (31) and Jordan Henderson (32) not getting any younger, January was the ideal time for Liverpool to sign a couple of midfielders.

Instead, Klopp will rue missing out on the Morocco international, especially considering his form for club and country this season.

Amrabat has an average Sofascore rating of 6.85/10 across his 19 Serie A appearances, having averaged  59.6 touches per game and a 90% pass success rate, along with winning 51% of his duels. He has shown that he could work well under the German in the heart of Liverpool's midfield, especially with his wonderful passing ability.

Not content with starring in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, he also played an integral part in Morocco’s sensational run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

The 26-year-old took 56.6 touches per game and completed 85% of his passes, carrying on his early season form for Fiorentina, and this was vital to the Atlas Lions’ success in Qatar.

The midfielder was also superb defensively, making 2.3 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 0.9 interceptions per game and demonstrating his physicality by winning 49% of his ground duels, efforts which went a long way in Morocco conceding just one goal in their opening five matches.

Journalist Lorenz Kohler described Amrabat as “different class” last year, and he certainly was the glue which held Morocco together during their historic run in Qatar.

Klopp will now have to wait until the summer if he still wants to pursue a deal for the player, although it would be no surprise if the 26-year-old's price tag rises significantly from the £35m which was touted at the end of 2022.