Centre-back search
- Thread starter rurikbird
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FSG and the recruitment team obviously don’t come to this site/forum otherwise they wouldn’t find it so difficult to find defenders
& they obviously don't check their emails often either otherwise they'd see the dozens of unread messages from BB listing these very players!!!
They want Todibo
Currently Robertson is not simply playing the role of LCB. The heatmaps indicate his role is as equally as hybrid as Trents, and equally as challenging.
Klopp may decide we're too exposed and look to play Gomez or a new CB there, but I do not think Klopps arrived at that point.
I also think there's plenty of scope for the inverted fullback system to fall apart this year, and Klopp will quickly revert back to the traditional 433 if that's the case. One decent long ball can cut through the entire side and there's more than enough talent throughout the PL to expose the gaps at the back.
Klopp may decide we're too exposed and look to play Gomez or a new CB there, but I do not think Klopps arrived at that point.
I also think there's plenty of scope for the inverted fullback system to fall apart this year, and Klopp will quickly revert back to the traditional 433 if that's the case. One decent long ball can cut through the entire side and there's more than enough talent throughout the PL to expose the gaps at the back.
I think the inverted fullback system is established for now and City just won the treble using it to great effect. The thing is their ‘3’ in the ball are all excellent defensive minded CBs and even their inversion is a Cb by trade.
We’re playing with two cbs frequently exposed.
Sounds like a gin cocktail which has a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.
Is that Robbo’s or Klopp’s fault? I can’t imagine Robbo being told to tuck in and deciding for himself to bomb on.
Liverpool need to sign another centre-back, so who are they targeting?
Andy Jones, Mark Carey, and James Pearce
Aug 9, 2023
120
While everybody has been screaming about Liverpool’s midfield this summer, quietly another alarm has been going off at the back.
Jurgen Klopp’s side conceded 11 goals in five pre-season games and the defensive frailties which plagued most of last season have returned in glimpses.
The starting back four looks strong with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on either side of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, but it is the depth behind them, especially at centre-back, which is the bigger cause for concern.
Joel Matip, who is entering the final year of his contract, looks set to remain at Anfield, so he and Joe Gomez will provide backup to Van Dijk and Konate, but neither has been entirely convincing.
Virgil van Dijk (left) and Ibrahima Konate (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
In terms of the other options, Nathaniel Phillips is expected to move on, while Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg have secured loan moves to Aberdeen and Mainz respectively. That would leave youngster Jarell Quansah, who has been involved in every friendly so far in pre-season, as fifth choice.
There is no guarantee Liverpool will enter the market in this area, but there is a profile of player they are interested in:
When profiling defenders it is key to establish the type of player that best suits what Liverpool are looking for. At right centre-back, for example, Konate is tasked with covering a lot of the right flank when Alexander-Arnold goes forward. The left side doesn’t have to be quite the same but, ideally, it looks like Liverpool would want a left-footed left centre-back who is defensively solid, comfortable and progressive in possession and can pull wide when necessary.
If Liverpool stick with their 3-box-3 formation long term, the bonus of being comfortable as an auxiliary left-back who can go forward would be welcome. On-ball actions are also a key consideration.
So, who fits the bill? Let’s start with three players Liverpool have been looking at, and three more they might like to consider…
Goncalo Inacio
Club: Sporting CP. Age: 21
Liverpool have so far dealt in release clauses this summer to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. If they wanted to cut out the negotiating middleman, which has been problematic in their pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, then Inacio would work. The 21-year-old reportedly has a £40million ($50.8m) release clause in his contract.
Since breaking into the first team in 2020-21, Inacio has racked up 122 first-team appearances so would arrive with plenty of experience both domestically and in European competition.
His first big tick is that he is left-footed and can also play across the backline. Last season, he regularly featured in Sporting manager Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, playing most of his time as the left-sided centre-back which indicates he could operate in Van Dijk or Robertson’s position in Liverpool’s shape.
Another standout trait is his ability to progress the ball forward. According to FBref, he ranks in the top one percentile for progressive passes (9.32) and the 97th percentile for progressive carries (1.94) per 90 minutes compared to all centre-backs.
In the Primeira Liga, Sporting were a possession-dominant team, similar to Liverpool, and Inacio demonstrated his comfort on the ball, able to both keep it simple and break opposition lines. He also offers an added attacking threat with 11 goals and eight assists from centre-back.
He is not a tall, imposing centre-back (6ft 1in; 185cm) but he has a lot of the required qualities needed to be a Liverpool defender. He reads the game well and is very good in one-versus-one situations.
Perr Schuurs
Club: Torino. Age: 23
Had Liverpool taken a different decision, they may have spent the last few years developing Schuurs for their first team themselves.
As a 17-year-old, the Dutch defender spent time on trial with Liverpool under-18’s, then managed by Steven Gerrard. When it came to the end of his time at the club, despite impressing, it was felt the best next steps for Schuurs’ development would be for him to remain at Fortuna Sittard.
Fast forward six years and the justification for the decision has been evident by Schuurs’ ascent via Ajax to become a regular for Serie A side Torino. However, now Liverpool would need to pay a substantial fee for his services.
The 23-year-old is capable of playing on either side of the defence, predominantly operating in the centre of a back three last season, which is the position Van Dijk operates in.
Schuurs is right-footed, which does not make him the ideal left-sided centre-back because the trajectory and shape of every pass are different and less efficient.
He is tall, having once earned the nickname of the ‘new Van Dijk’, and does the essentials of defending well, with above average tackles (1.97), clearances (3.95) and aerial wins (2.32) per 90 minutes, according to FBref.
The main area the Dutchman would need to improve would be in possession. While he is comfortable carrying the ball, he does not do it often, and his passing is even less progressive, attempting 2.17 per 90. This could be down to Torino’s tactical system, but overall he does not profile as the immediate choice for the left-sided centre-back Liverpool are looking for.
Marc Guehi
Club: Crystal Palace. Age: 23
The Crystal Palace captain has been linked to Liverpool on a handful of occasions this summer. As a young, homegrown player, he helps tick a box that Liverpool have to be mindful of.
He is right-footed, which again is not ideal, but he can operate on both sides of central defence. He is not an all-action defender in the volume of tackles and interceptions he makes, but he is known for his exceptional positioning and reading of the game.
With plenty of talk about Liverpool losing authority in recent weeks, Guehi would bring a calm head and the experience of leading a team. He has four senior England caps and after coming through Chelsea’s academy, would be used to the high expectations of a top club.
Marc Guehi (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Guehi is comfortable in possession, excelling at carrying the ball and he can play out from the back. He showed that while playing for a team that is far less expansive than the one he would be theoretically joining.
The other stylistic difference between Liverpool and Palace is the defensive line. Guehi can step out of defence well and is athletic, but it would require adjusting to a higher starting position.
It may not seem hugely significant from the graphic below, but Liverpool’s defenders are adept at running back quickly towards their own goal, whereas Palace are used to having the game in front of them.
Castello Lukeba
Club: Olympique Lyonnais. Age: 20
This may prove to be the one that got away for Liverpool as Lukeba looks set to move from Lyon to RB Leipzig this summer, although a fee still needs to be agreed.
The 20-year-old fits the Liverpool profile perfectly and has senior football under his belt both domestically (he has 58 Ligue 1 appearances) and in the Europa League. After a number of injuries in his position during the 2020-21 campaign, he seized his opportunity to break into the first team and has remained there ever since.
He is a left-footed centre-back who is comfortable lining up on the left of a back-three, making him an ideal option for the 3-box-3 system.
Lukeba is a progressive ball player who is comfortable in possession and can both pass and carry the ball forward to start attacks. He looks after the ball well, varying his passing range between short and simple passes or trying to break opposition lines.
He is an intelligent, powerful and well-rounded defender. He is patient when he tries to win possession on the ground and aerially. The French under-21 international reads the game exceptionally well as he is in the 99th percentile for interceptions among centre-backs, averaging 2.3 per 90 minutes.
His price may be the problem though, with Lyon reportedly wanting north of €40million — a significant outlay for Klopp when funds are required elsewhere.
Facundo Medina
Club: RC Lens. Age: 24
Left-footed centre-backs are rare enough in football. To find one with the technical ability to progress the ball upfield by escaping the opposition press and breaking lines with crisp passing is even rarer.
Lens defender Medina ticks that box emphatically. Of all centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season, he carried the ball the furthest and played the most passes into the final third. He completed 76.4 passes per game, with an accuracy of 90.2 per cent. Expand that to across Europe and he remains one of the best.
The 24-year-old is slightly over the ideal age profile but is still at the start of his prime and excelled in a Lens team that finished second in Ligue 1 last season. At 6ft 1in, he is not the tallest and is not dominant aerially but he is front-footed and an aggressive tackler who aims to launch counter-attacks.
Medina could also fill in at left-back as he has experience in that role. It could be perfectly suited to him because of the 3-box-3 system which would require him to become the left-sided centre-back of a back three.
And if we’re getting ahead of ourselves, it is not out of the question that he could be an alternative inverted full-back should Alexander-Arnold not be available. His composure and vision to drill passes into attackers floating in half spaces is ideal for the position, and he would be much more suited than Kostas Tsimikas who has operated in that role in pre-season.
Armel Bella-Kotchap
Club: Southampton. Age: 21
While negotiations continue with Southampton over Lavia, maybe Liverpool should consider enquiring about Bella-Kotchap.
The German burst onto the Premier League scene last season, becoming Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-choice centre-back and being called up to the German national team. His performances saw him included in the World Cup squad.
He is a pacy centre-back, comfortable defending large spaces. He has been prone to lapses in concentration and positioning but, at his best, he is an aggressive defender.
Armel Bella-Kotchap (Photo: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
His form was erratic — although bumps in the road should be expected from a young centre-back playing in the Premier League’s worst team in his debut season in England.
Not being required to be an immediate starter would allow Liverpool’s coaching staff to clean up some of that rawness physically and tactically. He is right-footed and his strengths would make him suitable for Konate’s role, too.
Work would be needed on the ball as Bella-Kotchap ranked in the bottom 14 per cent of centre-backs for progressive passes.
(Top photo, left to right: Goncalo Inacio, Perr Schuurs, Marc Guehi, Castello Lukeba; all Getty Images)
Andy Jones, Mark Carey, and James Pearce
Aug 9, 2023
120
While everybody has been screaming about Liverpool’s midfield this summer, quietly another alarm has been going off at the back.
Jurgen Klopp’s side conceded 11 goals in five pre-season games and the defensive frailties which plagued most of last season have returned in glimpses.
The starting back four looks strong with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on either side of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, but it is the depth behind them, especially at centre-back, which is the bigger cause for concern.
Joel Matip, who is entering the final year of his contract, looks set to remain at Anfield, so he and Joe Gomez will provide backup to Van Dijk and Konate, but neither has been entirely convincing.
Virgil van Dijk (left) and Ibrahima Konate (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
In terms of the other options, Nathaniel Phillips is expected to move on, while Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg have secured loan moves to Aberdeen and Mainz respectively. That would leave youngster Jarell Quansah, who has been involved in every friendly so far in pre-season, as fifth choice.
There is no guarantee Liverpool will enter the market in this area, but there is a profile of player they are interested in:
- A young player (aged 23 or under) who they can work with and develop, rather than the finished article
- Not required to come straight into the side
- Preferably, they will be left-sided (Liverpool have no left-footed senior centre-backs)
When profiling defenders it is key to establish the type of player that best suits what Liverpool are looking for. At right centre-back, for example, Konate is tasked with covering a lot of the right flank when Alexander-Arnold goes forward. The left side doesn’t have to be quite the same but, ideally, it looks like Liverpool would want a left-footed left centre-back who is defensively solid, comfortable and progressive in possession and can pull wide when necessary.
If Liverpool stick with their 3-box-3 formation long term, the bonus of being comfortable as an auxiliary left-back who can go forward would be welcome. On-ball actions are also a key consideration.
So, who fits the bill? Let’s start with three players Liverpool have been looking at, and three more they might like to consider…
Goncalo Inacio
Club: Sporting CP. Age: 21
Liverpool have so far dealt in release clauses this summer to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. If they wanted to cut out the negotiating middleman, which has been problematic in their pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, then Inacio would work. The 21-year-old reportedly has a £40million ($50.8m) release clause in his contract.
Since breaking into the first team in 2020-21, Inacio has racked up 122 first-team appearances so would arrive with plenty of experience both domestically and in European competition.
His first big tick is that he is left-footed and can also play across the backline. Last season, he regularly featured in Sporting manager Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, playing most of his time as the left-sided centre-back which indicates he could operate in Van Dijk or Robertson’s position in Liverpool’s shape.
Another standout trait is his ability to progress the ball forward. According to FBref, he ranks in the top one percentile for progressive passes (9.32) and the 97th percentile for progressive carries (1.94) per 90 minutes compared to all centre-backs.
In the Primeira Liga, Sporting were a possession-dominant team, similar to Liverpool, and Inacio demonstrated his comfort on the ball, able to both keep it simple and break opposition lines. He also offers an added attacking threat with 11 goals and eight assists from centre-back.
He is not a tall, imposing centre-back (6ft 1in; 185cm) but he has a lot of the required qualities needed to be a Liverpool defender. He reads the game well and is very good in one-versus-one situations.
Perr Schuurs
Club: Torino. Age: 23
Had Liverpool taken a different decision, they may have spent the last few years developing Schuurs for their first team themselves.
As a 17-year-old, the Dutch defender spent time on trial with Liverpool under-18’s, then managed by Steven Gerrard. When it came to the end of his time at the club, despite impressing, it was felt the best next steps for Schuurs’ development would be for him to remain at Fortuna Sittard.
Fast forward six years and the justification for the decision has been evident by Schuurs’ ascent via Ajax to become a regular for Serie A side Torino. However, now Liverpool would need to pay a substantial fee for his services.
The 23-year-old is capable of playing on either side of the defence, predominantly operating in the centre of a back three last season, which is the position Van Dijk operates in.
Schuurs is right-footed, which does not make him the ideal left-sided centre-back because the trajectory and shape of every pass are different and less efficient.
He is tall, having once earned the nickname of the ‘new Van Dijk’, and does the essentials of defending well, with above average tackles (1.97), clearances (3.95) and aerial wins (2.32) per 90 minutes, according to FBref.
The main area the Dutchman would need to improve would be in possession. While he is comfortable carrying the ball, he does not do it often, and his passing is even less progressive, attempting 2.17 per 90. This could be down to Torino’s tactical system, but overall he does not profile as the immediate choice for the left-sided centre-back Liverpool are looking for.
Marc Guehi
Club: Crystal Palace. Age: 23
The Crystal Palace captain has been linked to Liverpool on a handful of occasions this summer. As a young, homegrown player, he helps tick a box that Liverpool have to be mindful of.
He is right-footed, which again is not ideal, but he can operate on both sides of central defence. He is not an all-action defender in the volume of tackles and interceptions he makes, but he is known for his exceptional positioning and reading of the game.
With plenty of talk about Liverpool losing authority in recent weeks, Guehi would bring a calm head and the experience of leading a team. He has four senior England caps and after coming through Chelsea’s academy, would be used to the high expectations of a top club.
Marc Guehi (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Guehi is comfortable in possession, excelling at carrying the ball and he can play out from the back. He showed that while playing for a team that is far less expansive than the one he would be theoretically joining.
The other stylistic difference between Liverpool and Palace is the defensive line. Guehi can step out of defence well and is athletic, but it would require adjusting to a higher starting position.
It may not seem hugely significant from the graphic below, but Liverpool’s defenders are adept at running back quickly towards their own goal, whereas Palace are used to having the game in front of them.
Castello Lukeba
Club: Olympique Lyonnais. Age: 20
This may prove to be the one that got away for Liverpool as Lukeba looks set to move from Lyon to RB Leipzig this summer, although a fee still needs to be agreed.
The 20-year-old fits the Liverpool profile perfectly and has senior football under his belt both domestically (he has 58 Ligue 1 appearances) and in the Europa League. After a number of injuries in his position during the 2020-21 campaign, he seized his opportunity to break into the first team and has remained there ever since.
He is a left-footed centre-back who is comfortable lining up on the left of a back-three, making him an ideal option for the 3-box-3 system.
Lukeba is a progressive ball player who is comfortable in possession and can both pass and carry the ball forward to start attacks. He looks after the ball well, varying his passing range between short and simple passes or trying to break opposition lines.
He is an intelligent, powerful and well-rounded defender. He is patient when he tries to win possession on the ground and aerially. The French under-21 international reads the game exceptionally well as he is in the 99th percentile for interceptions among centre-backs, averaging 2.3 per 90 minutes.
His price may be the problem though, with Lyon reportedly wanting north of €40million — a significant outlay for Klopp when funds are required elsewhere.
Facundo Medina
Club: RC Lens. Age: 24
Left-footed centre-backs are rare enough in football. To find one with the technical ability to progress the ball upfield by escaping the opposition press and breaking lines with crisp passing is even rarer.
Lens defender Medina ticks that box emphatically. Of all centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season, he carried the ball the furthest and played the most passes into the final third. He completed 76.4 passes per game, with an accuracy of 90.2 per cent. Expand that to across Europe and he remains one of the best.
The 24-year-old is slightly over the ideal age profile but is still at the start of his prime and excelled in a Lens team that finished second in Ligue 1 last season. At 6ft 1in, he is not the tallest and is not dominant aerially but he is front-footed and an aggressive tackler who aims to launch counter-attacks.
Medina could also fill in at left-back as he has experience in that role. It could be perfectly suited to him because of the 3-box-3 system which would require him to become the left-sided centre-back of a back three.
And if we’re getting ahead of ourselves, it is not out of the question that he could be an alternative inverted full-back should Alexander-Arnold not be available. His composure and vision to drill passes into attackers floating in half spaces is ideal for the position, and he would be much more suited than Kostas Tsimikas who has operated in that role in pre-season.
Armel Bella-Kotchap
Club: Southampton. Age: 21
While negotiations continue with Southampton over Lavia, maybe Liverpool should consider enquiring about Bella-Kotchap.
The German burst onto the Premier League scene last season, becoming Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-choice centre-back and being called up to the German national team. His performances saw him included in the World Cup squad.
He is a pacy centre-back, comfortable defending large spaces. He has been prone to lapses in concentration and positioning but, at his best, he is an aggressive defender.
Armel Bella-Kotchap (Photo: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
His form was erratic — although bumps in the road should be expected from a young centre-back playing in the Premier League’s worst team in his debut season in England.
Not being required to be an immediate starter would allow Liverpool’s coaching staff to clean up some of that rawness physically and tactically. He is right-footed and his strengths would make him suitable for Konate’s role, too.
Work would be needed on the ball as Bella-Kotchap ranked in the bottom 14 per cent of centre-backs for progressive passes.
(Top photo, left to right: Goncalo Inacio, Perr Schuurs, Marc Guehi, Castello Lukeba; all Getty Images)
Liverpool need to sign another centre-back, so who are they targeting?
Andy Jones, Mark Carey, and James Pearce
Aug 9, 2023
120
While everybody has been screaming about Liverpool’s midfield this summer, quietly another alarm has been going off at the back.
Jurgen Klopp’s side conceded 11 goals in five pre-season games and the defensive frailties which plagued most of last season have returned in glimpses.
The starting back four looks strong with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on either side of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, but it is the depth behind them, especially at centre-back, which is the bigger cause for concern.
Joel Matip, who is entering the final year of his contract, looks set to remain at Anfield, so he and Joe Gomez will provide backup to Van Dijk and Konate, but neither has been entirely convincing.
Virgil van Dijk (left) and Ibrahima Konate (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
In terms of the other options, Nathaniel Phillips is expected to move on, while Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg have secured loan moves to Aberdeen and Mainz respectively. That would leave youngster Jarell Quansah, who has been involved in every friendly so far in pre-season, as fifth choice.
There is no guarantee Liverpool will enter the market in this area, but there is a profile of player they are interested in:
Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, 21, is an ideal fit — excelling in ball progression and passing — and is admired at Liverpool but he has signed a six-year contract extension to remain in west London.
- A young player (aged 23 or under) who they can work with and develop, rather than the finished article
- Not required to come straight into the side
- Preferably, they will be left-sided (Liverpool have no left-footed senior centre-backs)
When profiling defenders it is key to establish the type of player that best suits what Liverpool are looking for. At right centre-back, for example, Konate is tasked with covering a lot of the right flank when Alexander-Arnold goes forward. The left side doesn’t have to be quite the same but, ideally, it looks like Liverpool would want a left-footed left centre-back who is defensively solid, comfortable and progressive in possession and can pull wide when necessary.
If Liverpool stick with their 3-box-3 formation long term, the bonus of being comfortable as an auxiliary left-back who can go forward would be welcome. On-ball actions are also a key consideration.
So, who fits the bill? Let’s start with three players Liverpool have been looking at, and three more they might like to consider…
Goncalo Inacio
Club: Sporting CP. Age: 21
Liverpool have so far dealt in release clauses this summer to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. If they wanted to cut out the negotiating middleman, which has been problematic in their pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, then Inacio would work. The 21-year-old reportedly has a £40million ($50.8m) release clause in his contract.
Since breaking into the first team in 2020-21, Inacio has racked up 122 first-team appearances so would arrive with plenty of experience both domestically and in European competition.
His first big tick is that he is left-footed and can also play across the backline. Last season, he regularly featured in Sporting manager Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, playing most of his time as the left-sided centre-back which indicates he could operate in Van Dijk or Robertson’s position in Liverpool’s shape.
Another standout trait is his ability to progress the ball forward. According to FBref, he ranks in the top one percentile for progressive passes (9.32) and the 97th percentile for progressive carries (1.94) per 90 minutes compared to all centre-backs.
In the Primeira Liga, Sporting were a possession-dominant team, similar to Liverpool, and Inacio demonstrated his comfort on the ball, able to both keep it simple and break opposition lines. He also offers an added attacking threat with 11 goals and eight assists from centre-back.
He is not a tall, imposing centre-back (6ft 1in; 185cm) but he has a lot of the required qualities needed to be a Liverpool defender. He reads the game well and is very good in one-versus-one situations.
Perr Schuurs
Club: Torino. Age: 23
Had Liverpool taken a different decision, they may have spent the last few years developing Schuurs for their first team themselves.
As a 17-year-old, the Dutch defender spent time on trial with Liverpool under-18’s, then managed by Steven Gerrard. When it came to the end of his time at the club, despite impressing, it was felt the best next steps for Schuurs’ development would be for him to remain at Fortuna Sittard.
Fast forward six years and the justification for the decision has been evident by Schuurs’ ascent via Ajax to become a regular for Serie A side Torino. However, now Liverpool would need to pay a substantial fee for his services.
The 23-year-old is capable of playing on either side of the defence, predominantly operating in the centre of a back three last season, which is the position Van Dijk operates in.
Schuurs is right-footed, which does not make him the ideal left-sided centre-back because the trajectory and shape of every pass are different and less efficient.
He is tall, having once earned the nickname of the ‘new Van Dijk’, and does the essentials of defending well, with above average tackles (1.97), clearances (3.95) and aerial wins (2.32) per 90 minutes, according to FBref.
The main area the Dutchman would need to improve would be in possession. While he is comfortable carrying the ball, he does not do it often, and his passing is even less progressive, attempting 2.17 per 90. This could be down to Torino’s tactical system, but overall he does not profile as the immediate choice for the left-sided centre-back Liverpool are looking for.
Marc Guehi
Club: Crystal Palace. Age: 23
The Crystal Palace captain has been linked to Liverpool on a handful of occasions this summer. As a young, homegrown player, he helps tick a box that Liverpool have to be mindful of.
He is right-footed, which again is not ideal, but he can operate on both sides of central defence. He is not an all-action defender in the volume of tackles and interceptions he makes, but he is known for his exceptional positioning and reading of the game.
With plenty of talk about Liverpool losing authority in recent weeks, Guehi would bring a calm head and the experience of leading a team. He has four senior England caps and after coming through Chelsea’s academy, would be used to the high expectations of a top club.
Marc Guehi (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Guehi is comfortable in possession, excelling at carrying the ball and he can play out from the back. He showed that while playing for a team that is far less expansive than the one he would be theoretically joining.
The other stylistic difference between Liverpool and Palace is the defensive line. Guehi can step out of defence well and is athletic, but it would require adjusting to a higher starting position.
It may not seem hugely significant from the graphic below, but Liverpool’s defenders are adept at running back quickly towards their own goal, whereas Palace are used to having the game in front of them.
Castello Lukeba
Club: Olympique Lyonnais. Age: 20
This may prove to be the one that got away for Liverpool as Lukeba looks set to move from Lyon to RB Leipzig this summer, although a fee still needs to be agreed.
The 20-year-old fits the Liverpool profile perfectly and has senior football under his belt both domestically (he has 58 Ligue 1 appearances) and in the Europa League. After a number of injuries in his position during the 2020-21 campaign, he seized his opportunity to break into the first team and has remained there ever since.
He is a left-footed centre-back who is comfortable lining up on the left of a back-three, making him an ideal option for the 3-box-3 system.
Lukeba is a progressive ball player who is comfortable in possession and can both pass and carry the ball forward to start attacks. He looks after the ball well, varying his passing range between short and simple passes or trying to break opposition lines.
He is an intelligent, powerful and well-rounded defender. He is patient when he tries to win possession on the ground and aerially. The French under-21 international reads the game exceptionally well as he is in the 99th percentile for interceptions among centre-backs, averaging 2.3 per 90 minutes.
His price may be the problem though, with Lyon reportedly wanting north of €40million — a significant outlay for Klopp when funds are required elsewhere.
Facundo Medina
Club: RC Lens. Age: 24
Left-footed centre-backs are rare enough in football. To find one with the technical ability to progress the ball upfield by escaping the opposition press and breaking lines with crisp passing is even rarer.
Lens defender Medina ticks that box emphatically. Of all centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season, he carried the ball the furthest and played the most passes into the final third. He completed 76.4 passes per game, with an accuracy of 90.2 per cent. Expand that to across Europe and he remains one of the best.
The 24-year-old is slightly over the ideal age profile but is still at the start of his prime and excelled in a Lens team that finished second in Ligue 1 last season. At 6ft 1in, he is not the tallest and is not dominant aerially but he is front-footed and an aggressive tackler who aims to launch counter-attacks.
Medina could also fill in at left-back as he has experience in that role. It could be perfectly suited to him because of the 3-box-3 system which would require him to become the left-sided centre-back of a back three.
And if we’re getting ahead of ourselves, it is not out of the question that he could be an alternative inverted full-back should Alexander-Arnold not be available. His composure and vision to drill passes into attackers floating in half spaces is ideal for the position, and he would be much more suited than Kostas Tsimikas who has operated in that role in pre-season.
Armel Bella-Kotchap
Club: Southampton. Age: 21
While negotiations continue with Southampton over Lavia, maybe Liverpool should consider enquiring about Bella-Kotchap.
The German burst onto the Premier League scene last season, becoming Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-choice centre-back and being called up to the German national team. His performances saw him included in the World Cup squad.
He is a pacy centre-back, comfortable defending large spaces. He has been prone to lapses in concentration and positioning but, at his best, he is an aggressive defender.
Armel Bella-Kotchap (Photo: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
His form was erratic — although bumps in the road should be expected from a young centre-back playing in the Premier League’s worst team in his debut season in England.
Not being required to be an immediate starter would allow Liverpool’s coaching staff to clean up some of that rawness physically and tactically. He is right-footed and his strengths would make him suitable for Konate’s role, too.
Work would be needed on the ball as Bella-Kotchap ranked in the bottom 14 per cent of centre-backs for progressive passes.
(Top photo, left to right: Goncalo Inacio, Perr Schuurs, Marc Guehi, Castello Lukeba; all Getty Images)
I think here lies the problem
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- A young player (aged 23 or under) who they can work with and develop, rather than the finished article
- Not required to come straight into the side
- Preferably, they will be left-sided (Liverpool have no left-footed senior centre-backs)
We do need a player who is 23 or under, with quality to play for us but maybe not there yet but will also have some experience. However, if you have a player who meets the criteria they will have an agent/entourage whispering in their ear that they should be playing games. Anyone we sign will be behind Virgil and Ib. I know some will start spitting about injury records but that’s the cold hard fact. Van Dijk and Konate are the starting back 2. Who will come thinking I may get 2 or 3 seasons playing a bit part and maybe, just maybe I get a chance in the time being where I have to perform (rather than learn the game) to make myself undroppable? No-one. They’d rather go to a West Ham or Brighton and be first choice.
To us after we sell Virgil to the Qataris for £120 million.
Liverpool need to sign another centre-back, so who are they targeting?
Perr Schuurs
Club: Torino. Age: 23
Had Liverpool taken a different decision, they may have spent the last few years developing Schuurs for their first team themselves.
As a 17-year-old, the Dutch defender spent time on trial with Liverpool under-18’s, then managed by Steven Gerrard. When it came to the end of his time at the club, despite impressing, it was felt the best next steps for Schuurs’ development would be for him to remain at Fortuna Sittard.
Fast forward six years and the justification for the decision has been evident by Schuurs’ ascent via Ajax to become a regular for Serie A side Torino. However, now Liverpool would need to pay a substantial fee for his services.
The 23-year-old is capable of playing on either side of the defence, predominantly operating in the centre of a back three last season, which is the position Van Dijk operates in.
Schuurs is right-footed, which does not make him the ideal left-sided centre-back because the trajectory and shape of every pass are different and less efficient.
He is tall, having once earned the nickname of the ‘new Van Dijk’, and does the essentials of defending well, with above average tackles (1.97), clearances (3.95) and aerial wins (2.32) per 90 minutes, according to FBref.
The main area the Dutchman would need to improve would be in possession. While he is comfortable carrying the ball, he does not do it often, and his passing is even less progressive, attempting 2.17 per 90. This could be down to Torino’s tactical system, but overall he does not profile as the immediate choice for the left-sided centre-back Liverpool are looking for.
Leipzig are like the German Brighton (albeit with a bigger bargaining chip), they certainly know how to conduct themselves in the window.
Look how much they've made from the sales just in recent years of Nkunku Werner Ibou Szobo Gvardiol Naby Upamecano etc
That's over 400m euros to them, and they probably paid about 80m to get them all in the first place.
I'm sure that's the case for most but there will be a couple that are good enough. It's just a case of figuring out who.
Anyways, it doesn't look like we're trying to sign a CB in this window so it is what it is. Let's see whether Klopp can make it through the season with what he has.
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