Liverpool only need to tinker with the starting XI in the summer, with a new centre-half on their radar.
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Liverpool’s summer should be a lot easier than it was last year especially without the sort of saga that Alexander Isak’s transfer created.
There aren’t as many positions that need attention with the signing of Jeremy Jacquet making the centre-half department an easier one to address. If Ibrahima Konate signs a new contract, it will be even easier. Richard Hughes is still on the hunt for a senior defender though given the uncertainty over the France internationals with several names across Europe being linked after losing out on Marc Guehi to Man City in January.
Liverpool look to strengthen the defence
At the top end of the price range is Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. The Tottenham skipper has partnered Virgil van Dijk at international level and would be the perfect option to, potentially, one day take over from the veteran stopper. He has plenty of experience in the Premier League and his lightning-fast pace is exactly what is needed to defend on the half-way line. At £100m, he wouldn’t come cheap.
Alessandro Bastoni is the other name that Liverpool have been linked with and are said to have asked to be kept informed about the 26-year old’s situation at Inter Milan. They might be top of Serie A, however, the European campaign has not gone according to plan after being unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt. According to Fabrizio Romano, neither targets would be easy to buy.
Liverpool could face tough centre-half fight
On his YouTube channel, Italian transfer supremo Romano explaiend what the situation is for both of the Liverpool targets: “For Inter, Bastoni is an absolutely crucial player, they would ask I think for big, big, big money,” he said.
“This is not an easy deal in terms of negotiations. At the moment, there is an appreciation [from Barcelona] but nothing else.” Romano added: “I think at Tottenham there is a situation to clarify with the centre-backs. Now it’s time to fight to stay in the Premier League and try their best possible in the Champions League. But in the summer it’s going to be time to clarify the future of defenders.
“Cuti Romero and or Micky van de Ven, I don’t see Tottenham selling both of them, but there is obviously a lot of attention in the players. Several clubs are following these situations.”