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Junior Firpo fee is madness when Kieran Tierney is available

By Russell Hughes

SEVILLE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 07: Cristiano Piccini of Valencia CF duels for the ball with Junior Firpo of Real Betis during the Copa del Semi Final first leg match between Real Betis and Valencia at Estadio Benito Villamarin on February 07, 2019 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 07: Cristiano Piccini of Valencia CF duels for the ball with Junior Firpo of Real Betis during the Copa del Semi Final first leg match between Real Betis and Valencia at Estadio Benito Villamarin on February 07, 2019 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool have been linked with the transfer of Real Betis left-back Firpo, but the fee quoted is madness when Kieran Tierney is available for less.

The Reds are rumoured to be interested in activating the Spaniard’s release clause of £45 million, said the Guardian.

Jurgen Klopp engineered a side with the best defensive record in the Premier League last season, but will need to replace the departed Alberto Moreno after his contract expired.

It seems odd that Klopp is thinking about spending so much money for a player who would come in as a reserve to the flying Andy Robertson.

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If the Liverpool heirarchy want to sign a good back-up to Robertson, they would be better placed going for someone like the Celtic left-back Tierney.

The Daily Mail has reported that the Scot is valued at around £25 million, which represents a figure that should be immediately more attractive to Michael Edwards and the recruitment team.

Like Firpo, Tierney is 22-years-old. But unlike the Spaniard, the Celtic man costs nearly half the price and would go towards Liverpool’s homegrown quota.

However, you have to consider whether Tierney would be happy to come in as Robertson’s reserve. He’s already been bumped off the Scotland pecking order by Robbo. Would he make the choice that enables the same thing to happen for club?

One thing is for sure, Liverpool need to recruit someone who can step up whenever Handy Andy is unavailable. The noises from the transfer rumour mill suggest Klopp isn’t ready to trust the Academy with that responsibility.

Recruiting a player good enough, who doesn’t mind having reduced minutes, may be tricky. Maybe Firpo is keen, and will make an excellent player. His age is a bonus, sure, but Robertson is still only 25 anyway.

Next. Four options to replace Alberto Moreno in the summer. dark

£45 million doesn’t represent good value for money, not when there’s a player like Tierney available for much less.