Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should bring in a replacement for the injured Virgil van Dijk and named Dayot Upamecano as his pick.
A nasty collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in Liverpool’s 2-2 derby draw on Saturday left Van Dijk with a potentially season-ending injury.
The 29-year-old sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear and could be out for around five months. No confirmation will likely be given on when he may return until after his surgery.
Jürgen Klopp on Virgil Van Dijk's injury:
🗣️ "We will be patient and we will wait for him like a good wife who waits for her husband to get out of prison." pic.twitter.com/Cw8OrhHNAF
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 20, 2020
Nonetheless, Van Dijk’s injury blow couldn’t have come at the worst moment for Liverpool. Had it been even two weeks earlier, they would’ve had the option to sign a replacement. But the summer transfer window is now shut. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp will have to wait until January to seek new signings.
And, should they indeed go ahead in searching for a new center-back, Carragher believes RB Leipzig star Upamecano is the man for the job.
“There’s a young guy that everyone’s talking about – there’s one – that’s Upamecano at Leipzig,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“There’s talk of him. He’s not the profile of Van Dijk, he’s 6’1 or 6’2, so he’s maybe not that aerial challenger but if that’s the one Liverpool want next summer then bring it forward, pay the extra money and do it on January 1st
“That means Liverpool would only have to get through the next 11 league games without Virgil van Dijk.”
Upamecano, who also interested Manchester United over the summer, will be available for €42m next summer as part of the release clause in his Leipzig contract.
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