In short..... Yes!
On the surface everything is going well for Liverpool, through to the knockout stages in the Champions league and top of the Premier league at Christmas for the 3rd season in a row. And despite the odd draw, due to fatigue from this condensed, crazy season, things have been business as usual for the Anfield side. The defence has held up without Big Virgil and the loss of Joe Gomez, mainly thanks to Fabinho just casually becoming a world class Centre back overnight and solid performances from Welsh youngster Rhys Williams.
So why do we need to go and spend more money during covid times, when money is “tight” if we are managing just fine? Both Virgil and Gomez will be back this season even if it will be late on so why not ride it out? Disregarding the out of position Fabinho, Liverpool have only 3 premiership quality centre halves, of that, two are very injury prone. Joel Matip when fully fit cant play every game and Gomez hasn’t had a professional season without injury, including twice being on the sidelines for 9 months. So I’m counting down the days to when Matip gets injured and the panic starts all over again. Although Williams has done a job, which is remarkable considering he was playing conference league football last season. His calmness and composure on the ball has left me and many other Liverpool fans very impressed. However, he is 2 to 3 years off truly being able to regularly compete for a regular spot in the first team.
With all this considered Liverpool need to reluctantly (after spending 60 mill on Jota and Thiago) get the check book out again and buy a CB.... but the right CB. We don’t want a panic buy and fans dont want to see the club spend excessively to land a big name. The ideal candidate would be young yet experienced, strong minded and cultured with the ball, have strength and pace and be available for around the 30 mill mark. That player is not easy to find. We need a player to be future partner to Virgil and a replacement for Matip. Luckily for us, there is a lad knocking about in Amsterdam called Perrs Schuurs who ticks every box. Ajax are the kings of producing youth with a new wave of talent coming through every year and have almost become the main feeder club for Europe’s elite. Surely he would be tempted to make a move to the Premier league champions?
Schuurs was in the shadow of De Ligt and only 19/20 when Ajax had that amazing season but with main stars of that squad being prized away he became a senior figure in the squad and has been in good form ever since. At only 21 he has shown he has a head beyond his years and by all accounts with the right guidance is set to become a top player. Now I might be slightly biased but i struggle to find an argument against Klopp being the perfect manager for that. With Ajax being hit hard financially by covid its been reported he is available for 27 mill... which would be a bargain. The only potential problem is the player has said he wants to stay and develop with Ajax, but if Liverpool come calling you would like to think representative's of the club can talk him round with the lure of game time (which he will no doubly get this injury hit season) and a lucrative contract. If we got this one over the line he could be a very exciting prospect for the club.
In modern football you very rarely get your plan A though, so need to have plans B and C to fall back on. RB Leipzig’s Konate defiantly has the physical presence to succeed in Europe's toughest league, at only 20 he is still a diamond in the rough but when I see him play, he excites me. The way he moves and positions himself reminds me of Ledley king, who is a player I think was massively underrated. Injuries plaguing him throughout his career.
Plan C is Benfica’s Ferro, he is remarkably similar to Brazilian Fabinho in the fact he has managed to convert from a deep lying midfield playmaker, to now being excellent at CB. He would be my first choice but after signing a new contract with the Portuguese side, and with his contract reportedly having a100 million Euro's release clause, he certainly wont come cheap.
Liverpool realistically do need a centre back but whether the club will spend in January remains to be seen, if they don't then one should be signed in the summer as a priority..... its not like we need any more midfielders aye!
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