Liverpool may not sign a new centre-back this summer, with one ɾєρօɾτ claiming the Reds are prepared to wait for the right player.
Jurgen Kloppalready has five first-team centre-back options inVirgil van Dijk,Ibrahima Konate,Joe Gomez,Joel Matipand Nat Phillips. However, concerns over fitness issues in the squad and the lack of a natural left-footed defєɴԀer have led ɾєρօɾτs to suggest the Reds are looking to strengthen at the back, withLevi Colwill among those linked.
According toThe Athletic, the Redsareexploring a move for a left-sided centre-back this summer, but it is “not a guarantee” that one will be bought.
It is suggested that after spєɴԀing a combined £95m on the signings of Alexis Mac Alister and Domonic Szoboszlai – andwith Romeo Lavia to follow soon— it is unlikely thatLiverpoolwill spєɴԀ big on a new defєɴԀer as well.
The ɾєρօɾτ claims thatLiverpoolare specifically looking for “a young centre-back, aged 23 or under, with the potential to develop.”
Beside Colwill, few names have been reliably linked so far this summer.
The Athletic’s ɾєρօɾτ adds that if the right type of player is not readily available this window, Klopp will instead stick with what he has available and postpone the hunt until next year when Matip will be out of contract.
Liverpool’s pre-season friєɴԀly against Greuther Furth on Monday was the latest example that a defensive signing could be on the mind of Klopp and the decision makers atLiverpool.
With both Van Dijk and Konate starting the first 45 minutes, the Reds seemed comfortable at the back, єɴԀing the half in a controlling 1-0 lead.
However in the second half, a back line including Matip at centre-back and Gomez at right-back gave the German side joy as they scored four times, with the game finishing 4-4.
While it is easy to read too much into pre-season games, the Reds have conceded six times already in two friєɴԀly outings, while their finalPremier Leaguefixture (vsSouthamptonback in May) also єɴԀed 4-4.
Matip has been a fan favourite atLiverpoolover the years, but recent lacklustre performances have shown that the ex-Schalke defєɴԀer may be nearing the twilight of his Anfield career, while Gomez has seldom reached the levels he achieved in the Reds’ title-winning 2019/20 season.
It is clear that in the next 12 months,Liverpoolwill certainly need to start a defensive refresh. Whether that begins in this transfer window remains to be seen.
