Liverpool lead in £34m talent race

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Liverpool are allergic to signing centre-backs.

That is after all not true, however this summer season the Reds signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a charge of £27 million, making the 18-year-old the membership’s second totally senior signing since Virgil van Dijk’s record-breaking transfer in January 2018, and the primary being Ibrahima Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021.

Arne Slott’s aspect are pissed off after Leoni ruptured his ACL on his Reds debut and was out for the season, with defensive points on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s struggles this season.

Regardless of intense hypothesis over the way forward for Bournemouth ahead Antoine Semenyo, with Liverpool additionally thought of and Manchester Metropolis additionally mentioned to be eager about signing him, the necessity for a brand new centre-half stays nice.

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Guehi, 25, is without doubt one of the finest defenders within the Premier League. Probably the greatest gamers. Van Dijk turns 35 subsequent summer season and with Konate’s error-riddled contract coming to an finish quickly, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes are positive to compete for the Crystal Palace captain’s signature.

Nonetheless, with Guehi himself set to develop into a free agent on the finish of this season, Liverpool could need to play a ready sport. Nonetheless, the necessity for a brand new centre-back is nice and if the best alternative presents itself within the new 12 months, the Merseysiders ought to leap on it.

Now, because it occurs, such a shot has materialized, with Boravip confirming Liverpool’s curiosity in Membership Brugge defender Joel Ordonez forward of the January window.

With Chelsea out of the race, the Reds are believed to be the front-runners with a transparent path to signing his signature, though Serie A aspect Inter Milan are additionally on the listing.

Ordonez, 21, is considered one of the gifted up-and-coming centre-backs and signing him from Brugge would require a switch charge of €40m (roughly £34m), Belgium’s report charge.

Why Liverpool have to signal Ordonez

Little question, including a ahead like Semenyo to the slot squad would enhance Liverpool. Nonetheless, a name to a Ghanaian consultant in November revealed that FSG didn’t select to match Manchester Metropolis’s depth.

Why is that this? In spite of everything, Semenyo is without doubt one of the finest gamers in Europe, with 9 targets and three assists in 17 Premier League video games this season.

Might or not it’s as a result of Liverpool determined to prioritize defenders as an alternative? There’s a stronger case for centre-halves, as Liverpool’s leaky backline has prompted so many issues this season, with Konate and Van Dijk displaying cracks of their common shells.

Though Ordonez is younger, he has expertise within the Champions League and as a high expertise within the Belgian high flight, with expertise scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a “outstanding participant” with an “extremely good profile” for such a younger defender.

Moreover, in accordance with FBref, the Ecuadorian nationwide crew ranks within the high 9% of Belgian Skilled League associates for cross makes an attempt and completions, within the high 16% for progressive passes, and within the high 2% for carries.

A cross is taken into account progressive if the space between the start line and the following contact is at the least 10 meters nearer to the finished cross into the opponent’s purpose or into the penalty space.

This pure ball-playing capacity will serve Liverpool effectively, offering much-needed defensive depth within the slot and making him a extra necessary cog than a costlier extensive ahead like Semenyo.

With Florian Wirtz coming into his personal, the crew’s skilled Kodi Gakpo and Rio Ngmoja hailed as one of the thrilling skills within the nation, an up-and-coming defender like Ordonez may show to be simply the participant the Anfield aspect want.