Regardless of hyperlinks with quite a few centre-backs together with Lille teen Leny Yoro, sources at Liverpool insist signing a defender is “not a direct precedence.”
That’s in response to the Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle, who claims that following talks between Arne Slot and Richard Hughes, there’s a perception within the present choices.
The membership’s new head coach and sporting director will likely be working collaboratively in relation to transfers, and Slot’s first interview revealed ongoing conversations.
Doyle experiences that “the Reds imagine they’ve enough choices throughout a large age vary regardless of the lack of Joel Matip on a free switch.”
These choices are Virgil van Dijk, who will flip 33 subsequent month, Ibrahima Konate, 25, Jarell Quansah, 21, and Joe Gomez, 27.
Curiosity in Yoro, 18, is described as “separate to Liverpool’s anticipated switch enterprise this summer time,” with {the teenager}’s availability considered as a possibility too large to move up.
Liverpool are solely seen as on “standby” for any deal for Yoro both manner, with Actual Madrid presently favourites to signal the Frenchman.
It’s claimed that Slot, Hughes and the membership’s recruitment employees “imagine different areas of the squad require extra rapid reinforcement.”
That is regardless of Van Dijk coming into the ultimate yr of his contract this summer time, Konate having but to begin greater than 29 video games in any of his three seasons on the membership and Gomez’s sport time largely being spent at full-back.
Quansah is a shining instance of Liverpool’s productive academy, after all, and Slot may flip to his youth ranks once more to bolster the defence with Amara Nallo and Carter Pinnington, each 17, candidates.
However the suggestion that signing a brand new centre-back just isn’t an “rapid precedence” is questionable, and on this respect ought to be taken with a pinch of salt.
The departure of Matip was lined by the emergence of Quansah, however failing to exchange the No. 32 would nonetheless go away Slot brief.
Realistically, it could appear as if, together with figuring out a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, addressing the dearth of a high No. 6 and probably changing Caoimhin Kelleher, centre-back is a transparent precedence.
Marc Guehi, 23, and Riccardo Calafiori, 22, have each been linked, whereas Levi Colwill, 21, may additionally return to the radar.
Solely time will inform, although, with a lot up within the air following Jurgen Klopp‘s handover to Slot and main change within the boardroom.
