© IMAGO – Richard Hughes Liverpool
Liverpool are a step closer to signing their dream centre-back.
Richard Hughes failure to get a deal done for Marc Guehi last summer, has cost the Reds. Obviously, there were other factors at play but Guehi could have given Liverpool a very important boost.
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A lot of fans had foreseen Liverpool’s struggles. There were concerns last summer that the club hadn’t done enough defensively, especially after allowing Jarell Quansah to leave. Looking back now, those concerns seem completely justified after Liverpool ended the season down in fifth place.
The serious injury to Giovanni Leoni has only highlighted how thin Liverpool’s defensive depth really was all along.
What made things even more frustrating for supporters was Liverpool’s failure to go back in for Guehi in January. Instead, Manchester City stepped in, signed him themselves, and in the process strengthened a direct rival while giving Pep Guardiola another major boost heading into the second half of the season.
Liverpool did at least move for Jeremy Jacquet as part of their long-term plans, but he wasn’t in a position to help this season anyway. He only arrives this summer, and he spent most of the second half of the campaign injured himself.
There’s still a lot of belief in Jacquet’s potential, but right now he’s viewed more as a project for the future than someone ready to lead Liverpool’s back line immediately.
Liverpool see both Jacquet and Leoni as the players capable of becoming the future leaders of the defence for years to come.
But what about in the intermediary stage?
It’s obvious that relying on Leoni and Jacquet alone would leave the squad dangerously short of proven options.
With both Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate continuing to struggle with injuries, while also facing uncertainty surrounding their futures at the club, further reinforcements are essential.
Liverpool may still have exciting young talent coming through like Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye, but Liverpool need someone a bit more proven as well.
Especially because Konate is now on the brink of entering his final month under contract at Liverpool. He’s free to negotiate with other sides and the more time passes the less likely it will be that he stays at Liverpool.
It’s why a defender will still definitely be on the agenda for Liverpool in the summer window, and they have just gotten one step closer to getting a player they’ve had on their radar for a long time.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Konstantinos Koulierakis both this season and last season. He’s a young Greek international centre-back who had a very strong debut season in the Bundesliga and is one of the most exciting young defenders in the competition.
Koulierakis is comfortable on the ball, he reads game situations very well and now has a lot of experience for a 22-year-old defender having amassed 160 professional games at club level.
Obviously, this summer Liverpool will need to watch their budget carefully because there will not be an unlimited amount of money to spend. Which is why after spending a significant sum on Jacquet, Liverpool will have to be more budget friendly when signing their next centre-back.
And this is where the prospect of Koulierakis joining the club will now be so enticing.
Wolfsburg were relegated to the 2.Bundesliga this week, which has put Liverpool one step closer to securing a bargain move for the brilliant centre-back.
There are still lots of steps ahead, but there is no denying this is a significant step forward to bringing him to Anfield as it definitely opens up the possibility of him leaving and leaving for a reasonable fee.
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