£26m Brazil midfielder passes Liverpool audition — and more

Summer could bring renewal to Liverpool’s midfield.

Arne Slot has been reliant on the same cast of midfield options for the last two seasons - and it’s clear change is coming. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo are both out of contract in 2027 and Richard Hughes may well listen to offers.

Then there are contract deals to be sorted out for the other senior midfielders - Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

The clock is ticking - all three are out of contract in 2028 - and the off-season could see one or more moved on if no new contract is agreed.

We could see the Premier League champions move for a midfielder - and a long-standing target could be revisited.

Liverpool like Andre of Wolves

The Anfield side were heavily linked with a move for Andre before the then-Fluminense midfielder transferred to Wolves in 2024. But in January links re-emerged - suggesting that the soon-to-be-relegated side were prepared to listen to offers.

And Andre’s match-winning performance against Arne Slot’s side on Tuesday night may have been enough to win over any recruiters inside the club who might not have been sold on the idea of signing him.

The 24-year-old inflicted huge damage on Liverpool’s Champions League hopes - striking in the last minute to secure a 2-1 win for the Premier League basement boys. But the 13-cap Brazil international did much more besides in a man-of-the-match display.

Andre passes Liverpool audition

Andre was the best midfielder on show - even up against Liverpool’s star-studded trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.

Across 90+ minutes he completed 43 of 45 passes attempted - including 14 of 14 in the opposition half. He had a total of 67 touches - carrying the ball 13 times and making four progressive carries.

In the engine room he made nine defensive contributions - including winning three of five attempted tackles, making two interceptions.

The Wolves No7 also made one clearance and blocked one shot in a performance that featured 11 recoveries.

The midfielder went into 10 ground duels - winning seven - and gave away only one foul while drawing two. Into the bargain, Andre was not even dribbled past once.

All stats per Sofascore.

Inter Milan superstar Lautaro Martinez has reportedly resumed partial training as he aims to return to the pitch by the end of the month.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, El Toro has set his sights on recovering for Inter’s Serie A clash against Fiorentina on March 22.

Head coach Cristian Chivu will be without his talismanic goal-getter for Sunday’s blockbuster showdown against AC Milan.

On the bright side, Ange-Yoan Bonny will be at the 45-year-old’s disposal, with the Frenchman expected to resume training tomorrow.

Inter Milan Stalwart Lautaro Martinez Returns to Partial Training

UDINE, ITALY – JANUARY 17: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale during the pre-match warm up at the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Friuli on January 17, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Inter lost Lautaro Martinez to a calf injury in the first leg of their fateful UEFA Champions League knockout playoff tie against Bodo/Glimt.

As a result of the injury sustained in Norway, the 28-year-old missed the return fixture, as well as Inter’s last two Serie A matches.

Furthermore, the Argentine center-forward was unavailable as Inter shared the spoils with Como in a tepid 0-0 Coppa Italia draw on Tuesday.

However, he has now returned to partial training and could appear in Inter’s away game against Fiorentina later this month.

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Assistant sporting director Neil Adams will leave Norwich with head of recruitment Lee Dunn being promoted.