Who is Andre? The Brazilian passmaster linked with Liverpool

 

 

The departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho means Liverpool need to add further midfield bodies, and quickly. Investment in the middle of the park is key this summer, but with a little over a week until the 2023/24 season kicks off, they have added just Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to the ranks. 

 

Fabinho's exit should really kick things into gear. The Brazilian may not have proven as effective in the middle of the park in recent months, yet has been a key performer for Jurgen Klopp's side following his arrival from Monaco in 2018. Romeo Lavia seems the top target, but Southampton's insistence on Liverpool meeting the £50m asking price is proving a sticking point. 

 

There's perhaps a general consensus that a deal will be done, yet even so; the Reds are preparing contingencies. One of those has proven to be Andre from Fluminense. He has been linked with a Premier League move already this summer, and it now seems Liverpool are keeping tabs on the Brazilian. 

 

Flu are unlikely to mount a serious title charge as they sit 15 points behind runaway Brasileirao leaders Botafogo RJ at the midway stage of the season, but they sit two points off the automatic Copa Libertadores spots with Andre central to their commendable campaign so far. However, if Liverpool are looking to replace one Brazilian with another, then Andre isn't a direct replacement for Fabinho, nor should he be considered an alternative for Lavia. 

 

Fabinho was the ball winner for this Liverpool side, while Lavia can carry out similar duties to the 29-year-old. Andre, though, is considered more of a controller than a destroyer. Indeed, the 22-year-old ranks top for both passes per game (75.4) and pass success rate (93.7%) in the Brasileirao this season. 

 

 

That's not to say Andre doesn't work hard off the ball - 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90 is a testament to the desire to get stuck in - but that he is best dictating the tempo rather than breaking up play. Crucially, too, is that Andre is prepared to drive the ball forward when he is in possession to accomodate his fine distribution. 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 is a solid return for a player who often operates at the base of the midfield in a 4-2-3-1, or in the middle of a 4-3-3. 

 

If tasked with primarily breaking up play and playing the simple pass to teammates, then Liverpool would be wasting a central midfielder prepared to waltz up field to help open up angles for teammates in the final third. However, as is so often the case with any player in Andre's position, ill-discipline has so often reared its head. The youngster ranks 27th for fouls committed (23) while only three players have received more yellow cards than Andre (6) in the Brasileirao this season. 

 

In a quicker league, this would be further exposed, though in turn; this side to Andre's game may also be down to inexperience and a desire to impress, which can be worked on with the right coaching. What will have certainly caught the eye of Liverpool fans, though, is that Andre is one who is rarely dispossessed when on the ball. 

 

For any midfielder, they need to successfully retain possession in order to ease pressure on the defence, and despite his size, Andre protects the ball incredibly well having been dispossessed just 0.4 times per 90 in the Brasileirao this term.

Of course, the Premier League is a step up from the Brasileirao, but Andre will have seen compatriots Joao Gomes and Danilo depart for Wolves and Nottingham Forest, respectively, and held their own in England. What's to say the Fluminense star couldn't replicate his countrymen? 

 

Liverpool do have the funds to bring in more than one midfielder, and if they do approach Andre, then they'll still need to invest in a holder to protect the defence. Yet it's no surprise to see the Reds courting Andre, who they'll view as a man to focus on controlling proceedings rather than disrupting opponents. With Henderson gone, they need this sort of midfielder in the ranks.


Who is Andre? The Brazilian passmaster linked with Liverpool