As the rumours suggest, Liverpool have made a contract offer for Sead Kolasinac of Schalke 04. Liverpool are in need of a left back and they will try to seek one in the market, and Sead Kolasinac is one of the hottest fullback prospects around the Europe at the moment. The Schalke defender has become a summer target for big clubs around Europe and it is clear that he will leave Schalke at the end of this season. So a move for the attacking full back could be a huge deal for the Reds.
Kolasinac has been a constant figure in Schalke’s backline this season. The 23-year-old regularly features as an attacking left back for Markus Weinzierl’s side. After missing out in the first few matches at the start of this season, ‘Kola’ has been incredible ever since his remarkable performance against Mainz.
Liverpool have had a fair share of problems with the fullbacks this season with Alberto Moreno not being good enough for the task and starting just two games all season and is likely to be leaving at the end of this season. On the other hand, James Milner is clearly not a fullback which is evidently reflected in his performances as a left back. The signing of Kolasinac, however, will solve all their problems in the left back position. The Bosnian International is highly versatile when it comes to the flanks as he can play any position on the left flank, even as a left winger!
Kolasinac is also suited for Jurgen Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ scheme of play. He is extremely fast and can be very aggressive, which is perfectly suited for Klopp’s gameplay. Even under Weinzierl, Schalke exhibits a very intense game, which has been greatly executed by the former Augsburg boss.
Despite being a left back, the attack is one of his greatest strengths as he roams almost as a left midfielder in most of the games. Kolasinac can even be prolific as he already scored three goals this season in the Bundesliga. But on a major note, he is not just an ordinary left back who can defend and sometimes, score goals, Kolasinac also provides support for the offence just as well as he manages to sustain the opposition pressure. He has been involved in seven goals in the entire season for Schalke which proves his worth not just as a defender but a great offensive outlet as well.
Kola has been in sublime form this season and didn’t disappoint against big teams either. The Bosnian defender was literally unstoppable in games against Dortmund and Wolfsburg. Especially against Thomas Tuchel’s men, where he was deployed against Christian Pulisic on the left flank and he completely marked the American out of the game while showcasing his own offensive credibility at the same time. Even against Bayern, Kolasinac had a decent outing and Arjen Robben was completely frustrated because of the fact that he wasn’t being offered much space due to the positional awareness of his Bosnian opponent.
It’s no surprise that Liverpool are in for a huge competition if they want to sign the Schalke defender. Clubs like Inter, Man City and Juventus were also keen on the services of the 23-year-old. However, I strongly believe that Kolasinac will be highly useful for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as he likes to attack while still having the defensive mindset rooted deep into his head. He’s fast and tailor-made for Premier League football.
Liverpool also signed Joel Matip from Schalke for free and his impressive performances have been a boon for Klopp. Another move for a Schalke defender might just be the move Liverpool were looking for.
