Liverpool need to fill some gaps in the squad this summer and the measures are becoming more drastic as the weeks go by.
Liverpool could quickly change their approach in the summer transfer window, as recent concerns from manager Jurgen Klopp and new captain Virgil van Dijk have suggested.
Both men were unhappy when the Reds lost their pre-season game to Bayern Munich in Singapore, suffering a 4-3 defeat despite long-running control of the game and a 2-0 lead early on. .
Klopp and Van Dijk wasted no time after the defeat trying to figure out where the problem was, both concluding that the Reds were too lax defensively and were going through a period of mental relapse.
Speaking after the final whistle, Van Dijk told reporters on the pitch:
“[There’s] a lot of good things and things we need to improve on. They [Bayern] are a very good opponent and they will punish you if you don’t focus for even a second – that’s what happened. [There’s] a lot more work to do today – and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Klopp echoed the sentiment, saying:
“A lot of good things and some things I don’t like. Now we have to analyze.
“We have to look at fitness. We put in a lot of effort in training, especially in difficult circumstances yesterday. You saw with the goals we conceded, it was mainly because lack of focus.”
It’s no secret that Liverpool are aggressively looking at the midfield market this summer, especially after the recent unexpected departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in Saudi Arabia.
The Reds need more legs and stability in the engine room, but it is understood that the long-term priority at Anfield is bringing in a new top defender.
In just 12 months, seasoned Joel Matip will leave the club after his contract expires, meaning Klopp will be left with just Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and the injured Joe Gomez at centre-back. Briton Nat Phillips is expected to leave Merseyside permanently in the coming months.
Thus, with the holes appearing in Bayern’s defeat, it is still likely that Klopp’s priorities will change somewhat – placing a new defender on the same high importance as a midfielder. land.
Liverpool have been dealt a blow this week after emerging rivals Manchester City agreed a £75m deal for RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol.
The Croatian, who has admitted Liverpool are still the team he follows in English football, has been linked with a move to the Premier League over the past 12 months and is said to have been on Klopp’s radar.
The arrival of large sums from Gvardiol will only increase the overall price around high-performing centre-backs, meaning Liverpool could have to spend the last week of the transfer window, or risk being ripped off. leave it completely.
