Liverpool told they have far superior player to Declan Rice as Klopp is advised who to sign next

Liverpool have been told that one star already at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal can do “everything” and more that incoming Arsenal signing Declan Rice can do.

The Gunners are on the cusp of finalising an agreement to sign the West Ham star in a club-record deal. Indeed, with Arsenal overcoming the attentions of Manchester City, the Gunners are set to smash their transfer record by paying £105m for the 24-year-old.

All the two clubs need to sort is a payment structure, with the Hammers looking for as much of the fee up front as is possible.

However, the deal is due to be finalised this week, with Rice already agreeing terms on a huge multi-year contract at Emirates Stadium.

The fee Arsenal will pay will fall narrowly short of the £106.7m Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez. But it does make Rice the most costly British player to transfer between two Premier League sides.

The deal for Rice will certainly please all at Arsenal given he’s been their priority target for a number of months now.

However, it looks a classic case of out with the old, in with the new at Arsenal, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey both being allowed to depart.

As a result, Arsenal are now focusing on the signing of a quality Real Madrid star to partner Rice.

At once stage, Rice was also linked with a move to Liverpool.

However, former Reds striker Dean Saunders understands why Klopp did not pursue a deal.

And he has explained why, in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool already have England’s best midfield player on their books.

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Trent Alexander Arnold > Declan Rice

Discussing the abilities of Alexander-Arnold, Saunders now forsees a permanent move to midfield for the player.

Making his name as a right-back, Klopp made the bold decision to move him forward towards the back end of last season.

And the switch paid rich dividends with Alexander-Arnold excelling for both club and country.

Now Saunders, speaking to talkSPORT, reckons that his position now for keeps.

As a result, the Welshman has explained why he is superior to Rice. And Saunders also wants Liverpool to now pursue the signing of a new right-back to free up TAA for a permanent change.

“I think Trent is the best English midfield player in England,” Saunders said. “I think he’s better than all of them. If you play him in midfield, he can do everything that Declan Rice does. Everything!

“But also, he can hit passes that Thiago hits. If I was Jurgen Klopp, I’d buy a right-back and play Trent in midfield.”

Discussing Alexander-Arnold’s future in the game, Saunders insists he can’t see him anywhere other than in midfield.

“Trent was brought up as a midfield player,” he added. “He ended up at full-back but he knows what to do in the middle of the park.

“I was watching him thinking ‘You’ve got to have wing mirrors on when you play in midfield’. You’re playing with your back to goal and facing the other way, you’ve got to do both. And I think he can do both.

“So, I think Jurgen Klopp will eventually play Trent in the middle of midfield.”

That view is also shared by Jamie Carragher, who also reckons Liverpool have another two targets left this summer.

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