Liverpool risk defensive clanger with transfer business
Liverpool’s expenditure is expected to soar far north of £300million this summer.
The Reds have already flexed their financial might with big-money moves for Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, and they are not expected to stop there.
A record-breaking bid for Alexander Isak is in the works, and Liverpool have also been linked with a potential move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.
Liverpool must sign a centre-back
Amid all the excitement of Liverpool’s window, their desperate need for a centre-back seems to have been forgotten.
Links to Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi were strong earlier in the window but those rumours have now died down, and no other move appears to be close.
The urgency of the situation has only been intensified by the sale of Jarrel Quansah, who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth around £35m.
But almost a month has passed, and Liverpool are still yet to sign the defender’s replacement.
That has left the Reds with three senior options in the middle of defence – Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
| Defender | Games missed via injury since 2020/21 |
| Ibrahima Konate | 69 |
| Joe Gomez | 94 |
Three options for a season that will involve 38 Premier League matches, at least eight Champions League matches, along with both the League Cup and the FA Cup.
Two of those options – Konate and Gomez – missed a combined 24 Premier League matches through injury last season.
Not to mention the fact that the Frenchman’s deal at Anfield is set to expire next year, amid rumours that he will follow Trent Alexander-Arnold in moving to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
But wait, it gets worse. In a statement released by Liverpool on Saturday (26 July), Arne Slot confirmed that Gomez has left pre-season training to “undergo treatment on an Achilles injury”.
Liverpool must act now
If Liverpool do not act quickly, they will risk undoing their exciting attacking business, in its entirety.
The centre of defence is not an area to be treated with negligence, and it cannot be allowed to remain in a state in which one injury would see Van Dijk paired with a full-back.
Luckily, Liverpool have a month, and in that month, they must act.
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