Determined to shore up their defensive problems, Liverpool have kick-started negotiations with Lille over up-and-coming centre-back Sven Botman.
Jurgen Klopp has seen Liverpool’s defensive woes brutally exposed at the beginning of the season. The reigning Premier League champions have already conceded 20 league goals this season, which is only 13 shy of their tally for the entire 2019/20 campaign. Moreover, they have kept a clean sheet in just 31.25% of their league matches this term!
The Reds had been vulnerable defensively even before Virgil Van Dijk ruptured his cruciate ligament in the Merseyside derby versus Everton in mid-October. The captain was on the pitch when he and his teammates got swept aside by rampant Aston Villa side 7-2. Van Dijk’s absence, along with the one of Joe Gomez, has added insult to injury.
Physical problems sustained by the abovementioned duo have forced Klopp to shake things up at the back. Slightly forgotten Joel Matip has reclaimed the role of the protagonist, while Fabinho excelled as a makeshift centre-back when called into action. However, none of the two are long-term solutions.
Unfortunately for the Anfield outfit, Matip has recently joined the list of absentees and is expected to remain on the sidelines for at least three weeks. Although Klopp initially thought about sitting out the January transfer window, the piling defensive problems have forced the German’s hand.
Desperate to plug their defensive leaks, Liverpool have established contacts with Lille over a potential winter move for central defender Sven Botman, reports journalist Ekrum Konur. The 20-year-old only joined Les Dogues in the summer after the Ligue 1 club found an agreement with Ajax in the region of €9million.
Botman has been an omnipresent figure for Lille since the moment he landed at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. In fact, he has not missed a single minute of competitive football this season, turning into one of the most highly-rated defenders in the French top-flight. The Dutchman’s blistering showings have not gone unnoticed.
Liverpool’s interest in Botman dates back to November when the Merseyside powerhouse approached the player’s agent. Aware they have a gem in their hands, Lille have reportedly slapped a €20million price tag on the centre-back’s head. The financial fallout of the coronavirus crisis could throw a spanner in the works, though Klopp must dig dip into his pockets to strengthen his backline.
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