The Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp seems to be a busy man this transfer window as he tries to add some top class stars to the squad before letting the fringe players leave this summer. However, he has recently been hit by a small problem at the back with Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez and now Joel Matip, three center backs picking up various injuries. This has left the manager to sign Ragnar Klavan, an experienced defender but is now looking at 20-year old French national Presnel Kimpembe to add to his armory going into the next season.
The 20-yer old Kimpembe is currently plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain where he has managed to make 10 appearances since 2014. He is also an important part of French U-21 squad and is a player who is attracting interests from around Europe. So who is this 20-year old? Here is a SWOT analysis on the French national.
Strengths
At just 20, Kimpembe has already made himself a name as one of the calmest defenders in France. He is a player who never panics and is a player who every team would love to have in their ranks. He is strong, smart and loves to have the ball at his feet. His passing prowess is enviable for a defender while his ability to read the game in front of him makes him that much more useful. His interceptions and blocks are always on the high side as he is not afraid to put his body on the line. He loves to play the ball from the back as he is comfortable in possession but is also adept at finding the front line with a long-ball. All these attributes make him a good addition to any Premier League squad.
Weaknesses
At his age, Kimpembe is not really the tallest defender around. So naturally he is a bit of a liability in the air for the side. Though he is strong and will fight for the ball with even the best, his tender age has seen him lose out on air balls which have often cost his side. But as the years pass by, he will learn how to deal with the ball in the air and can dominate his box even better. This is probably the only real issue that the 20-year old has to work on before he is flooded with offers from around Europe.
Opportunities
On the radar of the Merseyside outfit since the end of the last season, Kimpembe might actually benefit from a move to Anfield. The likes of Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel are out of the club while Joe Gomez and Mamadou Sakho are currently dealing with their injuries. Joel Matip picked up a niggle but is expected to start the first game of the season against Arsenal alongside Dejan Lovren leaving Liverpool with the new summer signing Ragnar Klavan as the only other option on the bench. However, if Kimpembe makes the move this summer, he will be above Klavan in the pecking order and may impress the manager enough to warrant a place in the starting XI. He will be a great addition to the Liverpool squad for years to come.
Threats
At PSG, with the likes of David Luiz and Thiago Silva taking up the starting XI place in almost every game, Kimpembe has been reduced to a place on the bench for most games. However, he managed to make 7 appearances last season and had a chance to prove himself. At Liverpool, the likes of Sakho and Gomez are expected to be back in action after maybe a month and if Kimpembe is not given enough chances to prove himself before that, he may once again find himself on the bench for most of the season. So he will have to be careful in choosing his next destination.
