Fabrizio Romano Names Two World-Class Players that Liverpool Tried to Sign in 2022 | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Vitinha Miss: A Sliding Doors Moment in Midfield Rebuild

Liverpool’s journey through recent transfer windows has been defined by missed opportunities and bold rebuilds. One of the more intriguing “what ifs” has re-emerged following Vitinha’s Champions League heroics with Paris Saint-Germain. As reported by Fabrizio Romano for Caught Offside, the Portuguese midfielder was never truly close to Anfield, with the Reds instead focused on securing high-profile targets who ultimately chose other paths.

Vitinha’s Rise to European Glory

Vitinha’s dazzling form across PSG’s victorious Champions League campaign reminded Liverpool fans what might have been. The 25-year-old was dominant in both legs of PSG’s last-16 clash against the Reds, controlling the midfield with elegance and bite. “He’s very good player – but Liverpool wanted Tchouameni or Bellingham, no other players,” Romano told Caught Offside.

Photo: IMAGO

Vitinha had declared before visiting Anfield that PSG were confident despite a 1-0 home loss in the first leg. That confidence proved well-placed, as they progressed on penalties and ultimately lifted the trophy. His performance on Merseyside was particularly cutting for a Liverpool side that looked competent, but lacked the composure and tempo that Vitinha embodied.

Transfer Choices That Changed the Landscape

Rewind to 2022, when Liverpool desperately needed midfield reinforcements. Porto were open to a deal for Vitinha, who had impressed in Portugal following a forgettable loan at Wolves. His reported fee of £34 million looked a bargain in hindsight, but Liverpool had other ideas.

Instead, they pinned their hopes on Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Both were more glamorous names and better fits for the club’s long-term vision. However, Bellingham ended up at Real Madrid, as did Tchouaméni. Liverpool, shockingly, signed no one.

Romano’s insight explains this oversight clearly: “From what I’m told, Liverpool were never in talks to sign Vitinha. It was always PSG as Luis Campos wanted him as priority target.”

Photo: IMAGO

Midfield Rebuild Eventually Pays Off

By the end of the 2022–23 campaign, it was clear that Liverpool’s midfield had reached its breaking point. Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago were all visibly slowing, and the club’s drop to fifth in the Premier League underlined the cost of inaction.

In response, Liverpool launched an aggressive midfield rebuild in the summer of 2023, bringing in four new players. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo were among the new arrivals. Each has since played a major role in Arne Slot’s debut season, which ended with a Premier League title.

Had Vitinha arrived in 2022, there’s no guarantee he would have thrived in that particular Liverpool team. Surrounded by an ageing core and without the tactical coherence of today’s side, he may have struggled again, as he did in the Premier League with Wolves.

Yet, his reinvention at PSG is a lesson in patience and proper integration. With Luis Enrique’s guidance, Vitinha has become a conductor in midfield, his metronomic passing and defensive tenacity a blueprint for the modern No. 8.

Sliding Doors in Transfer Strategy

Vitinha’s story is not one of regret, but rather of alternative history. Liverpool’s hesitation cost them short-term success, but it arguably spurred a more complete overhaul that has positioned them well for the future.

As Romano reported, “It was always PSG” when it came to Vitinha. Liverpool, meanwhile, may not have erred in judgment but in timing. With their current midfield set-up flourishing, the Reds can afford to admire Vitinha’s rise without too much remorse.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, Vitinha’s recent success is both frustrating and validating. On one hand, watching him boss midfield battles on Europe’s biggest stage after being snubbed is a reminder of what could have been. On the other, his trajectory proves that not every player is ready for Liverpool the first time around.

Had Vitinha signed in 2022, he would have been dropped into a dysfunctional system, one creaking under physical and tactical strain. His time at Wolves showed he needs the right environment to shine, and PSG provided just that. It’s doubtful he would have been a revelation at Anfield back then.

Still, it stings a little. Especially when thinking how much he could complement today’s midfield, alongside Mac Allister or Szoboszlai. His press resistance, vision and tempo are traits Liverpool craved during their transitional year.

That said, fans are thrilled with how the club course-corrected. Arne Slot’s title-winning campaign showed that the right players were eventually brought in, and the club’s midfield now looks future-proof. There’s even a feeling that Liverpool missed out on Vitinha, but got it absolutely right overall.

Supporters can admire him from afar now, not with envy, but as a testament to the standards they’ve now restored.