Liverpool told they should have signed £35m Spurs star who would have been 'perfect'

Former Liverpool defender and pundit Stephen Warnock has suggested Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma would have been a good signing for Jurgen Klopp's side this transfer window.

Spurs acquired the Malian from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee that could rise to £35m, with Antonio Conte keen to add to his midfield options to try to mount a title challenge this season.

He played 112 times for the Seagulls in the Premier League, scoring three goals and generally impressed in the holding and box-to-box midfield roles.

The Reds, usually well stocked in the area, had to field James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott at Old Trafford on Monday in their defeat to Manchester United.

Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all sidelined, with the latter duo out of contract come the end of the season.

Liverpool have been linked with many midfielders in recent years, but Warnock believes they missed out on Bissouma and he would have been ‘ideal’.

“There’s been a lot made of Liverpool needing midfield reinforcements and I do agree with it,” Warnock said to BBC Sport.

“The owners will at some point have to put their hands in their pockets. Give Jurgen Klopp an extra player.” 

“One of the guys who stands out for me was obviously Yves Bissouma, who went to Tottenham for the fee that they paid for him. I think he would have been perfect for Liverpool."

Since joining the North London outfit, Bissouma has only made substitute appearances, but he will look to break into the first team in the coming weeks and become a serious option for Conte.

If had joined Liverpool, however, he would almost certainly be starting given the current predicament.

However, on the face of things when the quadrant of injured midfielders returns, the task would become much more difficult.

But he will likely go on to have a successful spell at Tottenham, and Liverpool may recognise him as one that got away.