Liverpool are not looking to recruit another defender this summer amidst recent rumours linking the Merseyside club with a move for Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida. A recent injury to Joel Matip, which was sustained during the Reds’ pre-season International Champions Cup clash versus Borussia Dortmund, gave rise to speculation linking Jurgen Klopp’s side with a move for a new centre-back. However, it is understood that the German manager has no intention to seal a move for a new defender in the coming weeks.
Some sources have recently claimed that the Merseyside giants had tabled a £19.5m bid for Croatia’s Domagoj Vida. It is now being suggested that Liverpool has no intention to sign him or any other defender this summer. Matip is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks and should be available for selection before the start of the new season.
The Reds manager has faith in his current crop of defenders and isn’t worried about the lack of defensive cover ahead of the new season. Meanwhile, Dejan Lovren is scheduled to report back just six days before Liverpool’s opening match against West Ham United as he is taking an extended break after helping his nation reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
In the absence of Matip and Lovren, Klopp can call upon the services of Virgil Van Dijk, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez to take up the defensive duties at Anfield. However, with the exception of Van Dijk, none of the other defenders had been consistent with their performances last season. Hence, it was expected that the Merseyside outfit will definitely look to bring in a fresh face in defence during this ongoing window in order to challenge on all fronts next term.
This recent development will be a cause for concern for some Liverpool fans as their team’s defence remains the only vulnerable area in the whole squad going into the new season. The form of Lovren at the World Cup was exceptional, to say the least. However, only time will tell whether he can replicate the same level of performance when he wears the Red jersey of Liverpool in the upcoming campaign.
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If he fails to deliver on the pitch, then the Merseysiders might be in for another long and hard season without trophies next term. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Liverpool and whether Klopp’s side can cope without signing any other defenders this summer.
