With the domestic season coming to a close, focus has inevitably begun shifting towards the Summer Transfer Window. With teams wanting to get their business done sooner rather than later, expect plenty of deals to be confirmed before the window officially opens on June 9th. Liverpool will be no different, as Jurgen Klopp showed last summer that he prefers his new signings to get a full preseason under their belts. So as expected, rumours are already in a frenzy, linking The Reds with a whole host of new names. We’ll take a look at where The Merseysiders need to improve most and who is currently on their radar for those positions. This week we’ll be focusing on the back four and next week we’ll go in depth with the front six positions.
Left Back
This has been a troublesome position for Liverpool, probably ever since Jon Arne Riise left for Roma. James Milner put in a highly commendable shift there this season, but that was surely only ever seen as makeshift. So who could come in to make that spot their own?
Ryan Sessegnon
The Fulham full back has earned himself plenty of admirers this season. Blessed with rapid pace and a natural ability to get forward. He would add a new dimension to Liverpool’s left-hand-side. At the tender age of seventeen-years-old, he still has plenty of time to mature in his game and hit incredible heights. The sky is the limit with this kid, and his signing would be a welcomed one.
Believability: High
Jonas Hector
A German international and seasoned professional. Hector has been the name on every Liverpool fan’s lips when potential left backs have been spoken of. Blessed with a solid attacking threat and an assured defensive nous, he has all the attributes to succeed in England. However, you get the feeling that if Klopp wasn’t interested in him last summer then he won’t be coming now.
Believability: Low
Centre Back
Yet another position that hasn’t properly been filled for a long while. It’s been about five years since a fully fit Agger partnering either Carragher or Skrtel made up the centre of Liverpool’s defence. That was the last time the defence was any good. Joel Matip has proven to be an inspired addition, but question marks still remain over his partner, whether that’s Lovren or Klavan. Expect at least one reinforcement to come in this summer.
Virgil Van Dijk
Probably the most highly sought after player in England at the moment. After an incredibly impressive second season at Southampton the Dutchman is in high demand. Since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival, Liverpool have been playing a very high line in defence. The German likes his defenders up the pitch and tight with his midfielders who are in turn tight with his attackers. It’s all necessary to unleash the Gegenpress on the opposition. However, what that high line means is that those two centre halves need to be comfortable facing their own goal chasing balls in behind. That is something Van Dijk excels at and he would be an invaluable addition to The Red’s defence. However, nearly every top six club has been mentioned in the same breath as the Saints defender already this season, so expect Liverpool to have to battle hard to land him.
Believability: Medium
Jonathan Tah
A defender of many gifts, the twenty-one-year-old centre back has been heralded as the next Jerome Boateng. He has all the raw physical attributes necessary to be a top defender, but he’s not quite the finished article yet. The German is still prone to lapses in concentration and that’s not the kind of defender Liverpool need to be in the hunt for right now. Add in the fact that no reliable source has linked the player with the club, and this doesn’t look to be happening anytime soon.
Believability: Low
The defence has been a massive issue for Liverpool in recent years. Expect the aforementioned names to be thrown around regularly throughout the summer as Klopp tries to capture his targets. The real excitement begins when we take a look at who could be joining the midfield and attack, as quality additions are expected.
