Liverpool are flying high this season under Jurgen Klopp and have emerged as prime Premier League contenders for the first time since 2013-14. They strengthened the squad significantly last year with quality additions and have also managed to keep hold of their star names during the past couple of transfer windows.
However, the Reds are likely to witness a few post-season exits – mostly the players who struggled to break into Klopp’s first-team falling out of favour in the aftermath of some necessary inclusions. Left-back Alberto Moreno is probably the first name on the exit list who is finally set to draw an end to his disappointing spell upon expiration of his contract at the end of the ongoing term.
The Spaniard was spotted in Rome to discuss terms with Lazio, and the Reds must now find someone as the understudy to Andrew Robertson. The emergence of Under-23 left-back Adam Lewis through the club’s Kirkby Academy is a significant boost. However, Klopp should be in the market for an experienced individual in order to compete for all four major competitions.
Also, they might encounter a crisis in the right-back role with Trent Alexander-Arnold lacking cover following the loan exit of Nathaniel Clyne. The gaffer likes Clyne’s defensive ability but prefers fullbacks who would keep on making relentless overlapping runs and whipping in crosses from the wide areas.
The Englishman, therefore, has little hope of resurrecting his Liverpool career whereas Klopp’s decision to utilise James Milner and Jordan Henderson as makeshifts further jeopardises his Anfield future.
Although the rumours of Ryan Sessegnon has resurfaced, the Fulham teenager would not come cheap even if the Cottagers go down to the Championship. But the Reds must consider a swoop for Erik Durm, the former Borussia Dortmund fullback who signed a one-year contract with Huddersfield Town the last summer.
The 26-year-old Germany international was handed his BVB debut by the current Liverpool chief and a rapid growth under Klopp’s tutelage earned Durm a place in his nation’s 2014 World Cup winning squad. But his career took a dip ever since as he is now almost certain to go down to the second tier with the bottom-placed Terriers.
Huddersfield have the option to trigger a one-year-extension, but a demotion to Championship would complicate things from their part. Liverpool should grab this opportunity to rope in Durm who is flexible and could feature in either of the fullback roles. A reunion with Klopp would see the player recovering lost ground and reinstate his reputation in European circuit.
