Liverpool are allergic to signing centre-backs.
This is not true, in fact, however this summer season, the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a £27m price, and the 18-year-old turned solely the second everlasting senior signing since Virgil van Dijk‘s record-breaking switch in January 2018, the primary being Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig in 2021.
With Leoni out for the season after rupturing his ACL on his Reds debut, Arne Slot‘s aspect have been left annoyed, with defensive points forming the crux of Liverpool’s wider wrestle this season.
Regardless of fierce hypothesis over Bournemouth ahead Antoine Semenyo’s future – Liverpool have been within the combine however Manchester Metropolis look set to win his signature – the necessity for a brand new centre-half stays nice.
Liverpool lining up winter Guehi various
Guehi, 25, is likely one of the finest defenders within the Premier League. The most effective gamers. With Van Dijk turning 35 subsequent summer season and the error-riddled Konate quickly out of contract, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes are positive to contest for the Crystal Palace captain’s signature.
However Guehi is a free agent himself by the top of the time period, so Liverpool might need to play the ready recreation. Even so, the necessity for a brand new centre-back is nice, and if the best alternative emerges within the New Yr, the Merseysiders should pounce.
Effectively, as it might occur, such a shot has materialised, with Bolavip confirming Liverpool’s curiosity in Membership Brugge defender Joel Ordonez forward of the January window.
With Chelsea dropping out of the race, the suggestion is that the Reds are the frontrunners having been given a transparent path to securing his signature, albeit with Serie A aspect Inter Milan additionally now within the combine.
Ordonez, 21, is taken into account probably the most gifted up-and-coming centre-backs on the market, and it might take a Belgian-record price of €40m (changing to about £34m), to prise him away from Bruges.
Why Liverpool must signal Ordonez
Make no mistake, including a ahead like Semenyo to Slot’s squad would mark an enchancment for Liverpool. However, having phoned the Ghanaian’s reps in November, FSG have opted in opposition to matching the depth of Manchester Metropolis.
Why is that this? Semenyo has been one of many most interesting gamers in Europe this season, in spite of everything, with 9 objectives and three assists unfold throughout 17 video games within the Premier League.
Might or not it’s as a result of Liverpool have as a substitute determined to prioritise a defender? There’s a stronger case to be made for a centre-half, with Liverpool’s leaky backline inflicting so many issues this season, and Konate and Van Dijk depicting cracked shells of their traditional selves.
Ordonez is younger, however he is gained expertise within the Champions League and as a high expertise within the Belgian high flight, with expertise scout Jacek Kulig even hailing him as “one thing exceptional“, with “an impressively full profile” for such a younger defender.
The Ecuador worldwide, furthermore, ranks among the many high 9% of positional friends throughout divisions related to the Belgian Professional League for passes tried and cross completion, the highest 16% for progressive passes and the highest 2% for carries per 90, as per FBref.
A cross is taken into account progressive if the space between the place to begin and the following contact is at the least 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s aim or any accomplished cross into the penalty space.
This pure ball-playing capability is one thing that may serve Liverpool nicely, offering Slot not simply with the defensive depth he wants however a extra essential cog than a large ahead like Semenyo, who could be costlier apart from.
With Florian Wirtz coming into his personal, Cody Gakpo an skilled member of the squad and Rio Ngumoha billed as probably the most thrilling skills within the nation, it would simply be that an up-and-coming defender like Ordonez proves precisely the participant the Anfield aspect want.
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