Liverpool prepared £87m bid to signal “world-class” CB

Liverpool are a crew with distinct flaws, and but they’re additionally breathtaking and good when firing on all cylinders.

Too usually this season, Arne Slot‘s facet have did not get going, outthought and outfought throughout the previous few months, dropping six of seven matches throughout all competitions earlier than a managed win over Aston Villa within the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Actual Madrid was one thing completely different, although. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who obtained a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

That is the Liverpool we all know. Vitality and depth and goal throughout each space of the sphere. Nonetheless, whereas Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood agency in opposition to Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain reality stays of the Merseysiders’ determined want for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool looking for a centre-back

In fact, Liverpool did signal a centre-back this summer season, including Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m charge. The 18-year-old is value his wait in gold, however ruptured his ACL on his debut in opposition to Southampton and now sits sidelined for round a yr.

The lack to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, nonetheless, is unquestionably the larger blow. A deal was virtually in place on deadline day, however the Eagles had not discovered an appropriate substitute, and with such little time to drag out the stops, the transfer disintegrated, with the participant having been permitted to hold out a medical with the Anfield facet.

It nonetheless might come collectively. Guehi, 25, has entered the ultimate yr of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no want to pen a recent deal. The problem now could be {that a} host of Europe’s high outfits need his signature, although Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are nonetheless main the race, forward of the likes of Actual Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the tip of the marketing campaign, but when they fall brief in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the right various in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per additional Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG contemplating making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this growing story is unsure at this stage, however the 26-year-old is undoubtedly proficient sufficient to face out below Slot’s wing, with the model and expertise to make a marked distinction as Van Dijk inches ever nearer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield profession.

What Bastoni would provide Liverpool

Liverpool want a centre-back; they’ve wanted one for a while. Whereas Guehi was the first-choice choice this summer season, Bastoni may truly show a extra compelling choice for the Anfield facet, having been hailed for his “world-class” capability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

It is a defender who’s on the high of their recreation, probably the most essential cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has received two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in 5 current seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy moreover.

And, aged 26, he falls into an identical bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the expertise to make an instantaneous affect and the prime years nonetheless forward to develop deeper into their position in Slot’s squad and attain solely new ranges of efficiency.

He is probably the greatest gamers in his place worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a objective and equipped two assists throughout 9 outings, successful 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per recreation (information offered by Sofascore).

A robust passer and outside-the-box thinker, he might even trump Guehi throughout ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man famend for his cool, composed and inventive presence on the ball.

As you possibly can see, Guehi has been extra energetic in defensive contributions over the previous yr. This you’d count on from an outfit like Palace within the Premier League when in comparison with Italian giants like Inter. However Bastoni is slicker and extra ready on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Certain, Guehi is a free agent come the tip of the marketing campaign, and that counts for lots, however whether or not Liverpool and FSG can be prepared to move up a chance to signal a expertise of Bastoni’s capability is one other query solely. In any case, the experiences counsel {that a} bid is presently being packaged collectively.

Here’s a fearsome centre-half with the passing vary of a maestro. Liverpool might do loads worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk inheritor with the right skillset to ease the agony of his transferring on.

Bastoni. The right, elite bastion to safe Liverpool’s backline for a few years to return. He has a wealth of expertise on the highest stage and the starvation to attain much more.

He’s immensely proficient, maybe extra so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would attain horrifying ranges of safety and steadiness and development with him added into the combo.