Jurgen Klopp’s spending spree at Anfield does not seem to be coming to a halt anytime soon. The Reds have already added a defensive midfielder in Fabinho and will welcome Naby Keita also to their midfield next season. The manager is desperate to solve issues at the club and their acquisition of Alisson Becker is a huge statement.
However, there are still areas of the squad that need to be addressed and the central defensive roles seem to be the manager’s next target. Liverpool have been linked with a number of defenders this summer and the latest name added to the list is Swansea City star, Alfie Mawson.
A transfer target for Burnley and West Ham United, Mawson joined the Liberty from Barnsley in 2016 and made an immediate impact on the side, making 27 league appearances in his first top-flight campaign. He only showed progress last season, as he stood as one of the best defenders for Swansea, even as they were relegated.
Calm and confident in possession, the 24-year old is yet to break into the senior side for England but is not too far away. He is happy to clear the ball from the back but is equally adept at build-up play. He is also strong in the air and his awareness of the game and the players around him makes him that much effective.
He has already gathered loads of experience, playing for several lower league sides in the country and his 65 league appearances with the Swans have only made him ready for tougher challenges.
It is understood that Swansea are happy for Mawson to move back to the top tier but have slapped a price tag of close to £20m for him this summer. The 24-year old has just two years left on his current deal but is well worth the money for most clubs in the Premier League and Liverpool are tagged as outsiders to land Mawson, by bookmakers Sky Bet.
The Reds have Dejan Lovren coming back from what was the best season of his career so far. He is expected to partner Virgil van Dijk as the first choice pair for the next season but the Croatian will miss the start of the season after his run in the World Cup. So Liverpool should start with Joel Matip alongside the Dutchman.
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Estonian veteran Ragnar Klavan is the only other option in that role with Joe Gomez not preferred there as yet by Klopp. Mawson will certainly push both Lovren and Matip for a place in the first team and at just £20m will certainly be a decent acquisition for the Reds. But do you think he is the man to eradicate the defensive lapses Liverpool have grown fond of in recent times?
