What could Frankfurt star Willian Pacho bring to Liverpool?

Liverpool will undergo a massive change this summer, with long-serving manager Jurgen Klopp leaving his beloved Reds.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot looks like he will replace the legendary figure, but plenty of changes can also be expected within the squad.

The incoming manager will undoubtedly want to remove a few of the current group, as well as adding new faces.

And one new face could be Frankfurt centre-back Willian Pacho, with BILD reporting that the Reds are eager to sign the 22-year-old this summer.

Who is Liverpool target Pacho?

The central defender has been a key player in all competitions for his club this season, with 42 appearances to his name.

Playing as a left-sided centre-back in a back four or back five, primarily alongside former Leeds United man Robin Koch, Pacho has helped Frankfurt in their top-six ambitions.

The German outfit currently occupy sixth place in the Bundesliga table, four points ahead of SC Freiburg in seventh, with just two matches remaining.

Pacho is also a regular on the international scene, already boasting double figures for Ecuador caps despite his youth. He is a proven commodity at the highest level which checks a lot of boxes for Liverpool.

What could he bring to Anfield?

Liverpool have one of the best centre-backs in world football in Virgil van Dijk, but that is where their world-class options in that area end.

Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah still have a lot to prove at the highest level, with Joe Gomez proving himself to be more useful at full-back, while Joel Matip is likely to move on this summer following his knee injury.

Like Gomez, Frankfurt star Pacho has also been used at left-back, but unlike the current Reds ace, the Ecuadorian is more at home in the middle.

Still, such versatility would be warmly welcomed at Anfield, particularly with injuries and with the Reds wanting to compete successfully domestically and in the Champions League.

Given that he is left-footed, Pacho’s arrival would even help bring Van Dijk to another level if possible, with the latter then able to be pushed into the right side of central defense.

Pacho and Frankfurt have impressed defensively this season, with the club sitting third in the overall table for duels won with 3,157.

Individually meanwhile, their central defensive star is impressively responsible for 303 of those duels won, placing him 13th in the overall list.

Why Liverpool may not sign Pacho

The Reds will undoubtedly be drawing up a lengthy shortlist if they are to move for a central defender this summer, and there is no guarantee that Pacho is a priority.

Moreover, a transfer could be difficult to complete given that his Frankfurt deal does not expire until 2028, with the defender having only joined from Antwerp last summer.

Other clubs will also be keeping tabs on Pacho given his rapid rise, although Liverpool may just hold out for a more experienced option, with the Frankfurt ace having just one Bundesliga season under his belt, while his only European experience is in the Europa Conference League.