Why are we seeing so many defenders linked with a Liverpool move?
Why have there been so many defenders linked with a move to Liverpool?
One of the best things about the Liverpool side created by Jurgen Klopp is how parsimonious they are. The arrivals of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk changed the whole outlook of the team and now they rarely concede goals.
Despite having problems finding a natural and long-term partner for van Dijk, the manager has still created an outfit that are incredibly hard to break down. Those issues at the start of the campaign resulted in a few more goals being shipped than Klopp would have liked, but it still wasn’t a massive issue.
Since Joe Gomez has resumed the mantel of van Dijk’s mate in their frightening double act, things have looked up for Liverpool.
Such was the strength of their partnership that van Dijk and Gomez let in just one goal in 10 Premier League fixtures.
Of course, it quickly unravelled after that but the bones of something special are clearly there. To the casual onlooker, it would appear weird that Klopp seems to keen to add to one of the best areas in the team.
Why are there so many central defenders being linked with a move to Liverpool?
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It’s easy to get excited when big names like Kalidou Koulibaly are mentioned, and he’s an obvious one in the sense that he’d improve the back four instantly.
But we’re not just seeing linked with proven, world class talent. Leicester City man Çağlar Söyüncü has been named as a possible target, as has Sevilla player Diego Carlos.
Out of those two, Söyüncü would make greater sense in the long run but even so, when would he play? Does it mean Gomez, a man who has shown real ability when fit, is shunted aside once more – or shall Joel Matip bite the bullet?
We’ve also got Sepp van den Berg, a highly promising Dutch youngster who joined from PEC Zwolle in the summer, as well as Dejan Lovren.
Lovren does look set to leave, but why couldn’t van den Berg play the role of fourth choice? There’s not really a need to splash big money on someone who wouldn’t be an instant upgrade on what Liverpool already have.
Transfer rumours aren’t always accurate, but they can be an indication of where a club’s thought process is right now.
What happened when Liverpool signed Kalidou Koulibaly. dark. Next
For a manager with Klopp’s reputation for bringing through youngsters, these rumours seem like the antithesis of what he’s trying to do.